The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee recently passed HB 2901, allowing the state’s four racinos to establish secondary locations in any building they own or lease within the same county. The satellite locations could offer table games, slots, sports betting and simulcast racing, but not a racetrack or hotel.
In addition, to keep the new site from cannibalizing the original site, the measure would require any revenue generated by the new site would be divided between the original city and the new casino’s host city. The West Virginia Lottery Commission must approve casinos’ satellite-site applications in public meetings. The bill will bypass the Finance Committee and move to the House floor.
West Virginia Racing Association President John Cavacini said the organization supports the legislation. He said currently only Delaware North, owner of Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack, is interested in a satellite casino because of annual flooding on the Ohio River and because of upcoming construction work on the Interstate 70 bridges. The new casino would be part of the Highlands, a retail, dining and entertainment development located in Ohio County, about nine miles from Wheeling.
The House Judiciary Committee also is expected to discuss state Del. Jason Barrett’s H 2934, the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which would permit the state’s four racinos and the Greenbrier to offer online casino gaming. “We have made great steps thus far in providing greater flexibility for the gaming industry in West Virginia, and I am encouraged by the support we have received on this particular iGaming initiative thus far. Our House finance chairman has a real interest in taking up the legislation and I believe it has great potential to pass with bipartisan support both in the House and Senate,” Barrett said.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission would regulate and administer interactive gaming, as it does sports betting. Licenses would cost $250,000 for five years, and revenue would be taxed at 10 percent. The measure requires the commission to “examine the regulations implemented in other states where interactive wagering is conducted and shall, as far as practicable, adopt a similar regulatory framework through promulgation of rules.”
Barrett’s bill is the second mobile gaming legislation filed for the current session, which ends March 9. State Del. Shawn Fluharty’s H 2178 was introduced in January, but Fluharty recently added his name to Barrett’s bill as one of its 10 co-sponsors.
