Change in ownership or control of slot machine licensee. Nonportability of slot machine license. Multiple slot machine license prohibition. Applicant or licensee if a person's sole voting rights under State law or corporate articles or bylaws entitle the person to elect or appoint one. Legal Ownership of Slots Despite the popular belief that owning a slot machine is against federal law, there are no United States ordinances at all regarding slot machines. The matter is entirely a matter of local law, decided state by state, thirteen of which allow private ownership of all types of slots.
- Nevada Slot Machine Law
- Slot Machine Ownership Laws Massachusetts
- Virginia Slot Machine Law
- Georgia Slot Machine Laws
Legal Information for slot machines
State and Federal Laws
Slot Machines Unlimited Inc. is registered by the United States Department of Justice – Attorney General’s Office in Washington, DC and operates in full compliance with the Gambling Devices Act of 1962. This registration includes the buying, reconditioning, repairing and selling of gambling devices.
State Laws and Regulations Regarding Private Ownership of Slot Machines
It is crucial the customer verify laws regarding ownership of gambling devices in the state of residence. We provide a State-by-State reference chart below. However, it is the sole responsibility of the customer to determine and verify their own State’s, County’s, Township’s or Municipality’s laws, statutes, and/or ordinances for private home ownership of slot machines and/or gambling devices.
Private home ownership of slot machines is for entertainment and amusement purchases only. Slot machines are sold for home use only. Unless specifically permitted by law, the use of privately owned gambling devices for gambling for profit is strictly prohibited.
Delivery
Customer pick up of slot machines is available from our location in southwestern Ohio. Local home delivery when offered by Slot Machine Unlimited Inc. will only be made to states in which private ownership of a slot machine is permitted by law.
Please reference the below chart about the legality of purchasing a slot machine by state. Slot Machines Unlimited cannot fulfill orders originating from states where slot machine purchases are prohibited by law.
STATE | LEGAL STATUS RESTRICTIONS/USE OF CURRENCY | LEGAL REFERENCE |
Alaska | ALL LEGAL | Alaska Statutes – Section 11.66.260 |
Arizona | ALL LEGAL | Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3301 – 13-3309 |
Arkansas | ALL LEGAL | N/A |
Kentucky | ALL LEGAL | Kentucky Revised Statutes 528.080 |
Maine | ALL LEGAL | Maine Revised Statutes Title 17A – Chapter 39 |
Minnesota | ALL LEGAL | Minnesota Statutes and Criminal Laws |
Nevada | ALL LEGAL | N/A |
Ohio | ALL LEGAL | Ohio Revised Code |
Rhode Island | ALL LEGAL | Rhode Island General Laws |
Texas | ALL LEGAL | Texas Statutes Chapter 47 |
Utah | ALL LEGAL | N/A |
Virginia | ALL LEGAL | N/A |
West Virginia | ALL LEGAL | N/A |
California | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | California Penal Code 330.7 |
Colorado | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1984 | Colorado Revised Statutes 12-47.1-103 |
Delaware | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | 28 Delaware 904 |
Florida | MACHINES 20 YEARS OR OLDER | Florida Statutes 849.235 |
Georgia | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1950 | Georgia Code Title 16, Sec. 16-12-24 |
Idaho | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1950 | Idaho Statutes Title 18, 3810 |
Illinois | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 5/28-1 |
Iowa | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Iowa Code 725.9 |
Kansas | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1950 | Kansas Statutes 21-4306 |
Louisiana | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Louisiana Title 15:31-1 |
Maryland | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Maryland Code Article 27-264B |
Massachusetts | MACHINES 30 YEARS OR OLDER | Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 271, Sec. 5A |
Michigan | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Michigan Compiled Statutes 750.303 |
Mississippi | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Mississippi Code 27-27-12 |
Missouri | MACHINES 30 YEARS OR OLDER | Missouri Revised Statutes 572.070 & 572.125 |
Montana | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Montana State Code 23-5-153 |
New Hamsphire | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | New Hampshire Revised Statutes 647:2 |
New Jersey | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1941 | New Jersey Statute 2C:37-7 |
New York | MACHINES 30 YEARS OR OLDER | New York Consolidated Laws 225.32 |
North Carolina | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | North Carolina General Statutes 14-309.1 |
North Dakota | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | North Dakota Century Code 12.1-28-02 |
Oklahoma | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Oklahoma State Statutes 21-964 |
Oregon | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Oregon Revised Statutes 167.147 |
Pennsylvania | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 5513 |
South Dakota | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | South Dakota Codified Laws 22-25-14.1 |
Vermont | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1954 | Vermont Statutes Title 13, Ch. 51, Sec. 2135 |
Washington | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Revised Code of Washington 9.46.235 |
Washington, DC | MACHINES MANUFACTURED PRE – 1952 | District of Columbia 22-1704 |
Wyoming | MACHINES 25 YEARS OR OLDER | Wyoming Statute 6-7-101 |
Alabama | PROHIBITED | AL Code Section 13A, Chapter 12, Article 2 |
Connecticut | PROHIBITED | Connecticut Chapter 946, Section 53-278a |
Hawaii | PROHIBITED | Hawaii Statutes §712-1226 |
Indiana | PROHIBITED | Indiana Code 35-45-5-4 |
Nebraska | PROHIBITED | Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 28-1107 |
New Mexico | PROHIBITED | NM Gaming Control Bd. v. Ten Gaming Devices |
South Carolina | PROHIBITED | South Carolina Code §12-21-2710 |
Tennessee | PROHIBITED | Tennessee Code §39-17-505 |
Wisconsin | PROHIBITED | Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 945 |
Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.
The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*
The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21
In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.
Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Keno
- Many versions of poker
In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.
Gaming Control Board in West Virginia
The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.
Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.
Casinos in West Virginia
There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.
The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.
The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.
Commercial Casinos in West Virginia
The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
- Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.
The single casino resort in West Virginia is:
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston
Tribal Casinos in West Virginia
West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:
- North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
- East and South: Virginia Slots
- West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots
Nevada Slot Machine Law
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.
Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!
Payout Returns in West Virginia
West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:
- Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
- Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)
Slot Machine Ownership Laws Massachusetts
Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:
Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing
From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:
- Casino resort: 92.5%
- Racetracks: 89.6%
- Commercial Retailers: 92.1%
Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.
The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.
Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Virginia Slot Machine Law
Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Georgia Slot Machine Laws
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC