It is the middle of winter. Some of these January days don’t get above freezing. The roads are covered with snow and ice at night. That makes it unsafe to drive to casinos.
The video lottery bars offer terrible games. In West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and Connecticut, there is a much better option than going out in the miserable cold for a gambling session.
These states all have legal online casinos. The gambling sites in these jurisdictions are licensed in the same way traditional casinos are. Both are overseen by state gaming commissions.
Not having to go out in the cold is just one reason to consider online casinos. There are many more.
Online casinos offer better odds
West Virginia casinos tend to deal bad games when compared to other markets. The best video poker game we found at WV casinos is 7/5 Bonus Poker, which requires betting $5 per hand. WV online casinos have 99% and better video poker, like 16/10 Deuces Wild, 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, and 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Online casinos also have multi-hand video poker. This includes Triple Play, Five Play, Ten Play, and Ultimate X. These games are uncommon at West Virginia casinos.
Slot machines in West Virginia casinos and video lottery establishments return about 90 percent. This means for every $10 you bet on a WV slot machine, it holds $1.
Online slots hold at least half that of live ones. These games return 93 to 97 percent.
The table game selection at West Virginia casinos is small. Only major games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and Three Card Poker are common. Unusual table games are virtually nonexistent at WV retail casinos. That is where online casinos come in.
Online casinos offer large varieties of table games. This includes Four Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. The best part is that you can play these games for a $1 minimum bet. Sometimes, it’s as low as a dime.
Some players don’t like electronic table games. That is where live dealer tables enter the picture. These games use real dealers and cards, dice, or roulette wheels. The minimum bet for live dealer games is usually $5.
Online casino bonuses
It is tough to get comps these days at West Virginia casinos. The video lottery establishments give virtually nothing. That is not the case at online casinos.
Casino sites offer new players bonuses. These add to the player’s return. It can be one percent or more. That can flip a game in the player’s favor.
Most WV online casinos offer deposit match bonuses. This is when the casino doubles the size of the deposit. Players can use this money on the slots and at tables immediately. However, there is a wagering requirement before it may be withdrawn. The lower the house edge a game has, the more wagering that is required to clear the bonus when playing it.
For example, the wagering requirement at the West Virginia BetMGM Casino is just one time for slots. It goes up to five times for most other games. Blackjack is 10 times. This means when playing blackjack, it takes $10 in bets to clear $1 in bonus. At slots, it only takes $1 in bets to clear $1 in bonus. However, some games, like live dealer ones, do not help clear the bonus. Always read the terms and conditions for game exclusions and rules.
Another part of the wagering requirement that is important is how long you have to clear it. BetMGM gives players 14 days. If the requirement is not met at that time, the deposit match is removed from the player’s account. Withdrawal requests are not permitted until the requirements are met or the offer expires.
Responsible gambling features
Responsible gambling is a major concern with online casinos. At a live casino, you can leave your ATM card at home and only bring an amount of cash you can afford to lose. That is more difficult at online casinos. However, there are responsible gambling features that create barriers to losing more than expected.
One major feature is the ability to limit deposits and losses. Players can decide on limits that work for a few hours, a day, a week, or longer. There are also maximum bet caps. If you worry about playing too long, you can set time limits in the software.
Once established, these are not easy to change. It takes several days for new preferences to take effect. That way, you don’t get caught in a moment and make a regrettable mistake. If you decide that online casinos are not for you, closing the account is simple. This will get you off mailing lists.