West Virginia's gambling history began in 1933 when gambling laws were liberalized to include betting on horse racing. The state's first major foray into legalized gambling was pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, established at tracks like Charles Town Races in the 1930s. For decades, horse racing remained West Virginia's primary legal gambling option. A significant shift occurred in 1994 when voters approved the legalization of limited video lottery terminals at racetracks, creating the state's first "racinos." This marked West Virginia's entry into modern casino-style gambling.
Legislation allowing racinos to add table games was approved in 2007, transforming these facilities into full-service casinos. Today, West Virginia supports a thriving commercial casino industry with five racetrack-based casinos offering slots, table games, and poker rooms. West Virginia distinguished itself as an early adopter of online gaming, legalizing online sports betting in 2018 and online casino games (including slots and table games) in 2019. WV became the fourth state to legalize online casinos in the US, launching its first sites in 2020.
The state permits operators affiliated with land-based casinos to offer online slots and table games, creating a mature iGaming market. As of 2025, West Virginia is one of seven states with legal online casinos, alongside New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. At least 10 online casinos operate in West Virginia, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, and Caesars. However, sweepstakes casinos faced unprecedented pressure in 2025: in July, West Virginia's Attorney General sent 47 subpoenas to sweepstakes casinos, resulting in over 20 exiting.
VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots) ended all Sweeps Coin play in West Virginia in November 2025, marking VGW's 12th state exit.