West Virginia Gambling Self Exclusion

West Virginia is looking to launch online casino gambling soon. Nationwide Self-Exclusion a Necessary Step to Protecting Gamblers When the legal US online gambling market was just a couple of states, the need for a nationwide self-exclusion network was negligible. Although many West Virginia residents could use offshore online casinos, and the state had been debating the introduction of an online lottery, up until this year there was no legal form of online gambling in the state. This has now changed with the introduction of a new bill. Information, resources, counseling and referral services can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit our Responsible Gaming page to learn more and to access information about our Self-Exclusion Program.

Our Code of Conduct

We want all our customers to have fun and to enjoy our properties safely. We are committed to a policy of responsible gaming at our gaming and pari-mutuel racing properties.

Wheeling Island Gaming, Inc will treat this self-exclusion request confidentially. Such information shall not be disclosed except to Wheeling Island Gaming, Inc and the West Virginia Lottery Commission for inclusion on their lists. Applications may be completed in person at a Maryland casino anytime during casino operation hours. If you are already on the self-exclusion list and have questions about obtaining win/loss statements, removal information, or other matters, please contact the Responsible Gaming Director at 410-230-8798 or responsible.gaming@maryland.gov.

While we recognize the overwhelming majority of our customers enjoy our various forms of gambling and non-gambling amenities responsibly, we also understand that there is a small proportion of the population who do not.

To protect them, and others affected by their behavior, we have established a set of policies and guidelines modeled after the American Gaming Association’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming. The “Code” establishes minimum standards that address problem gambling, underage gambling, improper use of alcohol, responsible marketing and advertising, and the prevention of unattended minors.

Penn National Gaming and its properties use a variety of approaches to promote responsible gaming including employee training programs, customer awareness campaigns, self-exclusion and financial restriction programs, written procedures for recognizing and managing these issues, use of outside experts, and ongoing monitoring and review to gauge the effectiveness of these programs.

It is widely believed that 1 percent to 2 percent of all gamblers are compulsive and that most experience varying degrees of depression and problems in their lives. Participating in games of chance becomes a self-medicating distraction, providing only temporary relief from underlying problems associated with compulsive behavior.

How do you know if you have a gambling problem?

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you often gambled longer than you had planned?
• Have you often gambled until your last dollar was gone?
• Do thoughts of gambling cause you to lose sleep?
• Have you used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid?
• Have you made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling?
• Have you broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling?
• Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?
• Have you felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses?
• Have you been remorseful after gambling?
• Have you ever gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations?

If you or someone you know answers yes to any of the above questions, consider seeking professional help or advice by calling the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

What can you do if you have a problem?

Admit that you have a progressive illness that won't go away by itself. Thousands of people have received help through Gamblers Anonymous or other programs designed specifically for people with gambling problems.

Concern for Children

Penn National Gaming, Inc. is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all its guests, visitors and team members.An important part of this commitment is to ensure that our patrons do not leave minors unattended either inside or outside of the facility.Penn posts signage informing parents and guardians not to leave children unsupervised.Team members are trained to be on the lookout for any unattended children and to report any such children to our security department while keeping an eye on the child until security arrives on the scene.

Prevention of Underage Gambling/Alcohol Consumption

Available Resources by State

Besides the National Problem Gambling Helpline, individual states also run free confidential problem gambling help lines and provide online information on problem gambling. For those seeking more information, or assistance with these issues, the following individual state resources are available:

Florida
1-888-ADMITIT
www.gamblinghelp.org

Illinois
1-800-GAMBLER
www.icpg.info/

Indiana
1-800-9-WITHIT
www.indianaproblemgambling.org

Iowa
1-800-BETSOFF
www.1800betsoff.org

Kansas
1-800-522-4700
www.ksgamblinghelp.com

Louisiana
1-877-770-STOP
www.helpforgambling.org

Maine
1-800-522-4700

Maryland
1-800-522-4700
www.mdgamblinghelp.org

Massachusetts
1-800-426-1234
www.masscompulsivegambling.org

Michigan
1-800-270-7117
https://www.michigan.gov

Mississippi
1-888-777-9696
www.msgambler.org

Missouri
1-888-BETSOFF
www.888betsoff.org

Nevada
1-800-522-4700
www.nevadacouncil.org

New Mexico
1-800-572-1142
www.nmcpg.org

New York
1-877-8-HOPE or text: HOPENY to 467-369
https://www.gaming.ny.gov/gaming/index.php?ID=3

Ohio
1-800-589-9966
www.ncpgambling.org/state/ohio/

Pennsylvania
1-800-GAMBLER
www.pacouncil.com

Texas
1-800-522-4700

West Virginia
1-800-GAMBLER (in WV)
1-800-522-4700
www.1800gambler.net

The National Council on Problem Gambling
730 11th Street, NW
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20002
1-202-547-9204

National Help Line
1-800-522-4700
ncpgambling.org

Gamblers Anonymous International Service Office
PO Box 17173
Los Angeles, CA 90017
1-213-386-8789
gamblersanonymous.org

Gam-Anon International Services Office, Inc.
PO Box 157
Whitestone, NY 11357-0157
1-718-352-1671
gamanon.org

Cambridge Health Alliance Division on Addiction
divisiononaddiction.org

National Center for Responsible Gaming
ncrg.org

American Gaming Association
americangaming.org

Sports betting is legal in West Virginia — at least if the federal ban outside of Nevada is deemed unconstitutional.

As anticipated, the WV Sports Lottery Wagering Act is becoming law. Gov. Jim Justice did not sign the bill, but it will become law on Friday without his signature, according to a release from his office.

The House and Senate each scrutinized the measure in recent weeks before passing it with relative ease.

Justice did not veto the bill despite a public call to do so from the commissioner of Major League Baseball. He may, however, call a special session to revisit the legislation once the US Supreme Court makes its move.

In passing a sports betting law, West Virginia becomes the sixth state to do so in recent years and the first in 2018.

From the WV governor…

Justice delivered a press release on Friday night, which included these quotes:

“After the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision on sports wagering, to address any provisions of the legislation that might be in conflict, I will ask the Legislature to look at the advantages of partnering with the major sports leagues,” Gov. Justice said. “I believe there could be real value to this partnership. I expect the Supreme Court to rule on this issue in the next few months.

“This approach will allow us to develop a relationship with all the major sports leagues so that it is beneficial to everyone.”

Gov. Justice went on to say that “if there are issues that we can address” to make this “model legislation that the entire country can use and duplicate, we should do so. Again, nothing can happen until the Supreme Court issues their decision, but we want to be ready when they do.”

West Virginia Gambling Self Exclusion

The mention of the leagues appears to be a direct response to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred asking him to veto it. It seems to have made some impact on Justice, but it’s unclear if the full legislature will be willing to go back and make changes now that the measure is fully passed.

West Virginia Gambling Self Exclusion Form

Both leagues released statements following the news: MLB NBA

WV sports betting becomes law

West Virginia Gambling Self Exclusion Form

The bill reaches the finish line less than six weeks after it was first introduced in the Senate. That’s pretty quick for a bill of this magnitude, and it speaks to the efforts lawmakers have put into the issue over the past year.

The first WV sports betting bill popped up in March 2017, and legislators have been exploring the topic since. One 2017 bill turned into three within the first month of 2018. The one that ultimately passed (S 415) was submitted at the behest of the Lottery Commission, and it was the culmination of a year of research and discussion.

The law permits the state’s five gaming facilities to offer sports betting under the lottery’s oversight. They’ll each pay $100,000 for the right to do so, and they’re expected to generate at least $5 million in total first-year tax revenue.

Despite substantial support from the majority of lawmakers, there were a few loud voices of opposition. Some presented arguments on the dangers of mobile wagering or betting on collegiate and minor-league games. Others contended that the state constitution requires a voter referendum to legalize sports betting.

The sports leagues were the loudest opponents, though, with the NBA and MLB actively lobbying in the statehouse. In the very moment the House was debating the bill last week, Manfred was on a conference call with local media pushing for a veto.

Why did sports leagues want a veto?

West Virginia’s new sports betting law shuts out MLB and other sports leagues from the integrity fee they’re seeking.

West Virginia Gambling Laws

Leagues have offered their support for some sports betting legislation, but only if they’re included in the action. They argue that they should receive one percent of all money wagered as compensation for the power of their brands in a widespread, regulated industry. League lawyers have referred to it as both an “integrity fee” and a “royalty fee.”

Lobbyists pitched those fees to WV lawmakers, but there was significant pushback in both chambers. The House, in particular, struggled to find justification to cut the leagues in. The demands never found their way into S 415, so the leagues remained opposed until the bitter end.

Losing the battle for WV could prove critical, as the leagues could struggle to gain traction elsewhere.

A Pennsylvania sports betting law already passed without including integrity fees, and New York and Connecticut have both pushed back in their own efforts. It’d be hard to argue that their constituents should pay for something that West Virginians do not, especially when those fees are not going to state coffers.

Charleston West Virginia Casinos

Just waiting for SCOTUS now

Although it has a law on the books, federal prohibitions prevent West Virginia from allowing sports betting right now. The act known as PASPA preempts state law and prohibits expansion of the industry outside of Nevada sports betting.

New Jersey is trying to change that, asking the US Supreme Court to take another look at PASPA. The court’s upcoming ruling will shape the future of legal sports betting in the US.

As with other states, West Virginia’s law contains an activation clause that keeps it dormant until there is movement at the federal level. That would need to come either via the court or an effort in Congress.

Most experts are predicting a victory for New Jersey, and the speculation has led nearly 20 other states to consider sports betting bills. Six of them are out in front of the pack with bills that have already been signed into law.

West Virginia Gambling Age

Here are the states currently waiting on the Supreme Court, although there’s more legislative work to be done in a couple of them:

• Connecticut
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia