West Virginia Online Poker June 2023

✍️ Written by : 

Frank Weber

✅ Fact checked by : 

Darena Rodrigues

🗓 Updated : 

Nov 8th 2022

Introduction

In 2019, West Virginia legalized gambling which included online poker. This made them the fourth state to legalize online poker. This is not an immediate roll-out and it will take some time to launch. There are many factors that are taken into consideration, for example, the population of West Virginia. The total number of people in West Virginia is 1.8 million people, so the market for poker is still left to be analyzed. Online poker casinos in West Virginia are yet to offer real money. Right now all that could be offered is a fenced-in poker market, devoid of a shared player pool that involves other states. But we can be hopeful that online poker will soon be prevalent in West Virginia given that its laws are already in place for it.

At this time, there are 5 casinos that are up and running, that have their licenses in place.

1. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

2. Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort

3. Mardi Gras Casino & Resort

4. The Casino Club at The Greenbrier Hotel

5. Wheeling Island Hotel

Even though it took some time for this phenomenon to catch on, developers were able to capitalize on the ideas and thus created a variety of poker games that were suitable for different kinds of players. Because of this, players in West Virginia have put their trust in them and even though their population is not that big, they have a faithful clientele. The West Virginia law does allow the brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with online casinos, similar to other states. This kind of arrangement has benefitted the sports betting industry in West Virginia.

West Virginia Online Poker Bonus

A seasoned player should always monitor when a new website is launched in West Virginia. The reason being is that new operators making their place in the state will always try to offer different kinds of bonuses like a:

• Welcome Bonus

• Part of the first deposit being credited back into your gambling account

• Chance to take part in a tournament

• Simple Reward

Be sure to keep an eye out on the wagering requirement for each of these bonuses. These bonuses are typically offered once you create a new account and it gets activated.

In addition to the welcome bonus, operators offer deposit bonuses. What can you expect in a deposit bonus? Typically these bonuses give players a chance to bank on collecting double the deposit amount into your account or a percentage of it. Sometimes you may require a bonus code while other times you might just have to click on the deposit bonus check box in order to avail of this promotion.

Another cool bonus that is offered is an opportunity to be able to participate in a tournament. Most of the time you will need an entry code to register for the tournament. So be sure to save those entry codes so that you can take part in the tournaments when they are offered. By doing so, you could win some free prizes and cash. 

The final bonus we will talk about is the “loyalty program”. Online poker sites in West Virginia offer loyalty programs to their faithful clientele. Here you can expect to receive exclusive rewards since you will be categorized as a VIP member in the VIP program. Be sure to look out for the program when signing up on any online site and read the terms and conditions before signing up.

West Virginia Online Deposit Methods

In this day and age making payments is not an issue. You can use a variety of methods to deposit money into your online poker account. These methods are usually safe and can be trusted to complete the transaction at hand. Some of these methods include:

• Credit Card (Mastercard/Visa)

• Debit Card (Mastercard/Visa)

• Skrill

• E-Wallets

• Electronic Check

• ACH

• Online Banking

• Wire Transfer

• EasyPay

• Paypal

• In-person payment at a brick and mortar casino

• Pay-Near-Me (at a 7-Eleven)

Choose any of the above methods to deposit money into your poker account. They are fast and convenient while ensuring that your information is kept private. So head over to the website and go to the cashier’s page. Select your preferred method, and based on your preferences, you can add money to your account. It can range from $10 and above. The final part is waiting for your confirmation, which in most cases is instantaneous. 

West Virginia Online Withdrawal Methods

One thing to keep in mind is that when you are ready to cash out your earnings at a poker site, West Virginia law requires you to confirm your identity before you can continue. During registration, you probably provided a lot of information but at this stage, you will have to go through more stages where your personal information can be verified. The only reason they are extremely careful is that they want the winnings to go to the right person and avoid any kind of threat or the winnings be stolen.

Once the verification stage is complete, you will have to choose the same method you chose for the deposit. This is because two different kinds of payment options may stop the withdrawal from taking place which could cause a ban. You want to avoid all kinds of suspicion and make it as easy as possible for the withdrawal transaction to be approved.

The final step is confirming the amount you want to withdraw. This step could take some time to complete. 

West Virginia Poker Apps

If you are wondering if you can play online poker in West Virginia on a mobile, then wonder no more. You can create an account and then use two different devices simultaneously to play on the same account. The only thing you can’t do is sign up on two separate devices. 

The legislation for online poker gives developers complete control over the platform. If we look at the Poker Star app, it was pieced together beautifully and continuous integrations and improvements were made. The feedback from customers and players was taken and additions/substitutions were made to the app. Because of this freedom and constant upkeep, it is one of the most popular apps in the online poker industry. It has a phenomenal interface, can be played on any device, and is extremely easy to use.

Global Poker in WV

If you haven’t considered Sweepstakes poker, well now is the time. Sweepstakes poker is a lot like social gaming but with a twist. It allows players to win real money while playing poker on any device.

Have you tried Global Poker yet? It is a popular option to play sweepstakes poker and is it available everywhere in the US and also Canada (exception: Quebec). If you look at the games offered at Global Poker, you will realize that they are very similar to the traditional online poker games where you can earn cash, play in tournaments as well as tournament series. Keep in mind that you can earn Sweeps Coins, which is a bonus given to people who buy Gold Coins. If you earn Sweepscoins you can trade it in for real cash. One thing you can expect is the secure verification process when it is time to redeem your money. This is incorporated for your safety to ensure that there is no fraudulent activity taking place on your online poker account.

Poker Apps in West Virginia offering Real Money

Even though the use of poker apps has significantly increased in the past few years, the residents of West Virginia can take advantage of playing them in other states until you can play for real money within the state. Here are the states you can play poker that is legalized and licensed:

• Delaware

• Nevada

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

Poker apps in general have been improving constantly through the years so expect to see simpler navigation, added features and more games being added to the apps. The flexibility is such that you will be able to play it on your mobile device, laptop or tablet.

If you are looking to get started, you can check out one of these apps:

• 888poker

• partypoker (including the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins)

• PokerStars

• WSOP

• Global Poker

• WPT

• Zynga poker

• ClubWPT 

Can I play on PokerStars in West Virginia?

At this time you can play PokerStars only in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Residents living near the border of West Virginia can take advantage of going on a road trip to Pennsylvania and indulge in playing online poker legally. You can keep your devices charged up and as soon as you cross the border, you can complete your registration and begin playing.

Why Choose Legal Online Poker Sites?

Even though residents may be tempted to play on unregulated sites, it is advisable not to do so. If you are wondering why? Well, safety is the number one reason. If you play for money, there is no guarantee that you will receive your earnings and you are opening yourself up to many risks that follow. These sites don’t have strict regulations in place from the US gaming community, unlike the legal online poker sites that the states of Delaware, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania have.

Sites that are legal and regulated, take a lot of effort to ensure that you are going to lose money or be a victim of fraud. Sites like PokerStars PA  and Global Poker are made for you to enjoy and have fun without thinking of security concerns. 

About the author

Frank Weber

Sports Journalist & Betting Analyst

Frank Weber is a sports & gaming writer with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and years of experience in the gambling world. He loves baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and the UFC - he even collects sports cards and memorabilia! In his free time, you could find Frank either out at a concert with friends, or at home sweating out all his (soon to be won) bets!