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| West Virgina Casinos |
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West Virginia has four pari-mutuel facilities that feature video lottery terminals. The VLT’s are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue. The maximum allowable bet on a machine is $2 and there is no limit on the prize payouts. Most of the gaming machines pay out coins or tokens, but there are also some machines which will only print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier. West Virginia law requires that VLT’s return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 95%. VLT games include: slots, blackjack, keno and numerous versions of poker. The minimum gambling age is 18 and admission is free to all casinos. For the one-year period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 the average return on VLT’s was: 91.62% at Tri-State Park, 91.04% at Mountaineer Park, 90.59% at Wheeling Island and 90.30% at Charles Town Races. West Virginia law also allows bars, as well as restaurants that serve alcohol, to have up to five VLT’s. Fraternal organizations are also allowed to have up to 10 VLT’s. All of these machines are identical to the machines found at the racetracks, except they only print out tickets and do not pay out in cash. In early 2007 the state legislature authorized a referendum in the home county of each of the four pari-mutuel facilities to allow table games at each track. The amendment passed in every county except for Jefferson County, home of Charles Town Races & Slots. The table games are in operation at Mountaineer and Wheeling Island. They are expected to be in operation at Tri-State by fall of 2008. For West Virginia tourism information call (800) 225-5982 or go to: www.callwva.com. Shown below is a list of all West Virginia casinos. Click on a casino name to see a page of detailed information about that particular casino. |
