West Virginia To Add Casino Before Online Discussion

West Virginia lawmakers are looking to make their way into the ever-growing online gambling market in the US, but their first priority is to make more revenue from existing casinos while opening a new facility in the coming year.

Two bills have been proposed in West Virginia. The first will lower taxes that casinos currently pay to operate table games. The casinos have been hurt by casino openings in neighboring states, and lawmakers want to ensure that the West Virginia facilities stay competitive.

The second bill, if passed, would allow for a new casino in Franklin. The area has been pushing for a casino, and legislators believe it is the ideal place for expansion. West Virginia began expanding their industry back in 2008, when they approved increased wagering limits at casinos.

In the years since, the state has again fallen behind the norm for expansion. Pennsylvania, once a non-threat to any gaming industry, has become the premiere casino market on the East Coast over the past three years. Pennsylvania added table games back in the summer of 2011, and last year by December, Pennsylvania had passed New Jersey and become the second-largest gaming market in the US, behind only Nevada.

New Jersey responded by adding sports betting and online casinos to their repertoire. New Jersey plans to have the online casinos operational by the end of the year. They are in a race with Nevada to become the first state in the nation to allow online gambling.

West Virginia lawmakers would like to get into the Internet gaming industry, but that will have to wait with the two bills proposed this week being the primary focus right now.

While the casinos would win out with the lower table game fee, down from $2.5 million to $1.5 million each year, they would also have the subsidy they receive from the state to purchase new slot machines cut by nearly 25%. It is a trade-off that casinos are not thrilled to be a part of.

The increased competition that a Franklin casino would bring also has West Virginia casinos uneasy, although lawmakers tout the creation of nearly 300 jobs as a benefit of adding the new gaming facility.