West Virginia Lottery Delays Online Gambling

West Virginia Lottery Director John Myers told a legislative committee his agency wants to consider online gambling after regulators work out sports betting apps for the state’s five casinos. Observers said the reason is the lottery’s success, surpassing 2018 projections by more than $25 million. Meanwhile, state Del. Shawn Fluharty re-introduced online gambling legislation.

In West Virginia, state Del. Shawn Fluharty sponsored H 3067 which would allow the state’s licensed casinos to offer online gambling, regulated by the West Virginia Lottery. However, Lottery Director John Myers recently told the House Finance Committee the agency would prefer to consider online gambling at a later date. “We certainly see the opportunity in iGaming. We fully intend to come back with that at some point,” Myers said.

Observers said the lottery may be pushing back on online gambling due to its success: State figures indicate lottery revenue beat projections by more than $25 million in 2018.

Fluharty has introduced an online gambling measure in the last three sessions. The bill would require a $50,000 licensing fee and would tax gross revenue at 14 percent.

Myers noted regulators still are working to get sports betting apps operational for the state’s five casinos. He said once that’s completed the lottery can shift its focus back to online and other forms of gambling.

So far, only Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras casinos have launched mobile and online sports betting platforms. Hollywood Casino, Mountaineer and the Greenbrier all have opened sports books but still are dealing with getting their apps approved.

Recent Articles

History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

On May 25, 1935, Ohio State sophomore Jesse Owens delivered arguably the greatest 45 minutes in sports history at the Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor. Owens broke three world records and tied a fourth, setting new marks in the long jump (26′81/4"), the 220-yard dash (20.3 seconds), and the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6 seconds), while equaling the 100-yard dash world record (9.4 seconds). Despite his individual brilliance, Michigan narrowly edged out Ohio State for the team title, 48 to 43.5.

On This Day In Sports History

On May 24, 1918, Cleveland outlasted the Yankees 3-2 in a 19-inning marathon at the Polo Grounds. Stan Coveleski pitched a remarkable complete-game victory, but the hero of the day was Joe Wood. Having converted from a pitcher to an outfielder after his arm "went dead," Wood launched a game-winning solo homer into the left-field bleachers—his second home run of the afternoon—to finally seal the win for Cleveland.