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West Virginia officially legalized online gambling on March 27, 2019, after the state's legislature passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act (H2934). Although the first iGaming operator did not launch until over a year later, the state now has a very active online gambling market. In February 2023, gamblers in West Virginia spent 65.6% more on bets than the $222 million recorded the year before. In the same month, iGaming operators made 44% more revenue than February 2022's $8 million. Furthermore, the West Virginia Lottery puts the state's handle for July at $277.3 million, 8.4% higher than June's $255.8 million. West Virginia's total sports betting revenue in June 2023 was $2.05 million.
Although West Virginia is largely conservative, it was one of the first states to legalize online casinos, along with the likes of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Like the others, the Mountain State established and enforced strict rules that guide online casino gaming. For instance, all gamers must be at least 21 years old. Also, state law requires that gamblers must be within the state's borders to play at a registered online West Virginia casino.
West Virginia's iGaming industry is now flourishing as the state consistently records increasing numbers for bets placed and revenue. As of May 2023, the revenue department has already received $53.3 million in taxes from the iGaming sector for the current fiscal year. In May alone, the state earned $78 million in total iGaming revenue, a 12% increase from the same month last year. In the same month, West Virginia's iGaming service providers generated $18 million in total income. Furthermore, operators have received over $3.5 billion in bets for the fiscal year 2023, creating at least $18 million in taxes from online casino gaming. The figure reflects a nearly 40% increase in iGaming taxes received, over the $12.9 million collected in fiscal year 2022.
According to the West Virginia Lottery Commission's July 2023 iGaming license list, there are 10 online gambling providers with active licenses. Some popular games these operators offer include casino classics like blackjack, roulette, and poker. Many sites in WV also offer speciality games like keno and bingo, and exciting new additions especially for the online casino scene, like Aviator, as seen on several iGaming sites on Techopedia.com. Although relatively new, Aviator is quickly catching on among gamblers in the state. The game simulates an airplane's takeoff, with players hoping to cash out at the best possible time before the plane goes off the grid. Slots are also incredibly popular at WV online casinos, thanks to their simple gameplay and coloful graphics, giving that immersive experience much like a land-based casino.
West Virginia's online gaming industry has attained some success for various reasons, not just thanks to the huge range of interactive games on offer. One of the biggest upsides to the state's iGaming sector is the tax laws. Although gambling winnings are taxable as personal income, West Virginia does not enforce withholding taxes on gambling winnings for state purposes. While the state collects 15% of a casino's income, it will only take 6.5% of a gambler's winnings if the person does not provide identification. Also, West Virginia is attractive to players because they can deduct gambling losses before calculating applicable taxes on winnings. In addition, the Mountain State has legalized all forms of iGaming, ensuring that residents do not need to visit other states to play their favorite games.