West Virginia became the fifth state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement relating to interstate online poker liquidity sharing. The other four member states are Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey.
There are no legal WV poker sites at this time. It appears that will change with this agreement. Pokerfuse previously reported that the state would only enter into the interstate online poker pool if an operator became interested in launching there.
For now, West Virginia players have online sports betting and casino sites. The closest game to online poker in the state is Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
The time frame is unknown. It seems unlikely that anything will happen in 2023 and 2024 could be the year West Virginia gets online poker.
Which poker sites are coming to West Virginia?
It is unknown which poker sites asked West Virginia to join the compact. Two online poker operators have Interstate operations. PokerStars combines its Michigan and New Jersey player pools. WSOP, a Caesars Interactive poker site that struggles with the most basic parts of its business, joins its Nevada and New Jersey operations with the Delaware Lottery.
BetMGM does not have any interstate poker sites. It operates online poker in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Each market is intrastate. BetMGM has a Nevada license. However, it never launched there. This may be enough motivation for BetMGM to combine its Michigan and New Jersey sites while opening in Nevada and West Virginia. There is a BetMGM Casino in all those states, except Nevada, where it only operates a sportsbook.
Caesars is partnered with Mountaineer Casino. BetMGM and FanDuel operate in West Virginia through an agreement with Greenbrier.
Online poker is legal in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In Connecticut, no sites have launched and the current regulations don’t permit Interstate poker. Pennsylvania can join the Interstate online poker agreement under current law.
Types of online poker games that will be available
When online poker launches in WV, games like Texas hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha hi/lo will be available. If WSOP enters the state, seven card stud and seven card stud hi/lo would be available.
Cash games would be dealt for all these games. No limit Texas hold’em and pot limit Omaha are typically dealt in sit and gos and Multi table tournaments.
The Interstate liquidity sharing agreement allows for action 24 hours a day, something West Virginia wouldn’t be able to do without linking to other states, as Delaware discovered early in the legal online poker process. There is not enough traffic to sustain a healthy poker site without players from other states.
Whichever sites launch, you can be assured that online poker bonuses will be available. Most return 25 to 50 percent rakeback to players. The amounts range from $500 to $1000.