After years of anticipation, online poker in West Virginia is finally live. In June 2025, BetRivers Poker became the first regulated operator to offer real money poker games in the state, connecting West Virginia players to one of the largest multi-state poker networks in the U.S.
This milestone marks the end of a long wait since the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act legalized online poker back in 2019. With its launch, West Virginia joins states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Delaware under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), allowing players to compete across shared tables and tournaments.
This article answers the “is online poker legal in West Virginia” question, which platforms are licensed, and how the state regulates online play. You’ll also learn what the future may hold for additional poker rooms, taxes on winnings, and the broader impact of shared liquidity on the Mountain State’s growing iGaming market.
Responsible Gaming Notice: Online poker is designed for entertainment and should always be played responsibly. If you or someone you know struggles with gambling, help is available. Contact the West Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER for free and confidential support.
Is Online Poker Legal in West Virginia?
Yes, online poker is legal in West Virginia under the Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, signed into law in March 2019. The legislation authorized the state’s five land-based casinos to partner with licensed operators for online casino, table games, and poker platforms.
Despite legalization, it took several years for an operator to launch. The delay stemmed from West Virginia’s relatively small population and the limited incentives for poker sites to operate without interstate connectivity. That changed when the state officially joined MSIGA in 2023, allowing shared player pools with states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Nevada.
In June 2025, BetRivers Poker became the first fully regulated real money poker site to launch in the state, operating under the Mountaineer Casino license. West Virginia residents aged 21 or older can now play legally from anywhere within state borders, provided geolocation software confirms their location. The West Virginia Lottery regulates licensing, compliance, and player protection standards.
Licensed Poker Sites and Apps in West Virginia
As of 2025, BetRivers Poker is the only fully licensed real money poker site operating in West Virginia. It launched in June 2025 under the Mountaineer Casino license, becoming the state’s first regulated online poker platform after years of preparation.
BetRivers Poker connects West Virginia players to a four-state shared network. This multi-state structure dramatically expands the player pool, ensuring steady game traffic, larger tournaments, and more consistent prize guarantees. The platform features modern software inherited from Run It Once, offering integrated HUD statistics, dynamic avatars, and anonymous seating for fairness and security.
Players can access BetRivers Poker on both desktop and mobile through the operator’s casino app. Additional operators such as PokerStars and WSOP have expressed interest in joining the market once partnership opportunities align with state casino license holders.
How Online Poker Is Regulated in West Virginia
Online poker regulation in West Virginia falls under the authority of the West Virginia Lottery, which oversees licensing, taxation, and compliance for all iGaming activities in the state. The regulatory system ensures that only approved operators with verified partnerships, like BetRivers and Mountaineer Casino, can offer real money poker to residents. The state also mandates secure encryption for financial transactions and routine testing of random number generators (RNGs) to maintain fair outcomes.
Taxation follows a framework similar to other iGaming verticals: poker operators pay a 15–18% tax on gross gaming revenue, while players are responsible for reporting poker winnings on both state and federal tax returns.
Interstate Poker and Shared Liquidity
One of the biggest advantages for online poker in West Virginia is its participation in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This agreement allows licensed poker operators to combine player pools across participating states, currently West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada.
The BetRivers four-state network (WV, MI, PA, DE) gives local players access to a steady range of cash games and tournaments around the clock. This setup mirrors the model used successfully in Michigan and Pennsylvania, where shared liquidity led to stronger traffic and faster tournament growth.Future integration with New Jersey and Nevada could make West Virginia part of the largest regulated poker network in the United States, further boosting competition, game variety, and player rewards.
Live Poker Rooms and Casinos in West Virginia
While online poker has only recently launched, live poker has been part of WV’s casino scene for years. Several licensed venues across the state offer in-person cash games and tournaments, attracting both local players and visitors from nearby states.
The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races remains the state’s most active poker destination, featuring multiple Texas Hold’em tables and regular weekend tournaments. Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in Wheeling also operate live poker rooms, offering a mix of No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha tables.
These poker rooms follow the same state-regulated gaming framework as online operators, ensuring fair play, player verification, and responsible gambling policies.
For those who enjoy the social atmosphere and face-to-face strategy of live games, these venues remain the cornerstone of West Virginia’s poker community, complementing the growing online market.
Payment Methods and Player Security
All real money online poker operators in West Virginia must meet strict security and financial integrity standards set by the West Virginia Lottery. Players have access to verified, encrypted payment systems that mirror those used in regulated casinos.
Common deposit and withdrawal methods include Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Play+ cards, online banking transfers, and ACH e-checks. Deposits typically start as low as $10, with most transactions processed instantly. Withdrawals, however, may take 1–3 business days, depending on the chosen method and verification status.
Funds are kept in segregated player accounts, ensuring they cannot be used for operational expenses. Additionally, operators are required to maintain SSL encryption, fraud monitoring, and two-factor authentication to protect user data.
Licensed poker sites in West Virginia also comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, meaning all players must verify their identity before cashing out. These combined measures make playing poker online in WV as secure and transparent as any regulated gaming environment in the United States.
Future Outlook
The future of online poker in West Virginia looks promising after years of limited activity. With BetRivers Poker now live and connected through the MSIGA network, the state has finally proven that small markets can support viable, regulated poker ecosystems when multi-state pooling is in place.
Industry observers expect that other major operators, including PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM, will explore launching within the state in the next few years. Each already holds partnerships with local casinos or operates other iGaming products in West Virginia, which could streamline their entry into the poker market.
Continued regulatory stability, favorable tax conditions, and the state’s cooperation with MSIGA all make West Virginia an attractive environment for future expansion. While its population of fewer than two million may limit standalone liquidity, shared networks ensure consistent growth potential.
Overall, West Virginia’s 2025 launch marks a turning point for U.S. regulated poker, signaling renewed momentum for smaller states ready to connect with the broader national iGaming framework.
FAQ: Online Poker in West Virginia
Is online poker legal in West Virginia?
Yes. Online poker became legal in 2019 under the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, but the first regulated operator didn’t launch until 2025, when BetRivers Poker went live under the Mountaineer Casino license.
Can you play online poker in West Virginia for real money?
Yes. As of 2025, BetRivers Poker is the only platform offering legal real money poker games in the state. Players must be 21 or older and physically located in West Virginia.
How is online poker regulated in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Lottery oversees licensing and compliance, ensuring fair play, player verification, and financial security for all operators.
Are there any taxes on winnings in online poker?
Online poker winnings are taxed as ordinary income in West Virginia, subject to both state and federal tax rates. Players must report their winnings on their tax returns, including those from online poker games.
How to play online poker in West Virginia legally?
Register with a licensed poker room, such as BetRivers, verify your identity, and confirm your physical location within state borders through geolocation software.
Will more poker sites launch in West Virginia?
Likely yes. PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM are expected to expand into the state once new partnerships and shared liquidity arrangements are approved.