VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS OR ‘VLTs’ EXPLAINED. Video Lottery Terminals or ‘VLT’s’ are increasingly common in some states with lottery operations. As the name suggests, they are video gaming machines run by the state lottery. Lotteries that offer these games include versions of slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc. These games may. One of the most crucial differences is that slot machines are known as Class III machines, while Video Lottery Terminals are considered to be Class II machines. This distinction does not mean there’s a difference in quality – only in gameplay.
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
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)
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
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
Video Lottery Terminals Versus Slot Machines For Real
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
As we said earlier, after the original hand of cards is dealt, the player may select the cards they wish to keep. At the same time, the video poker machine will show replacements at random for the cards the player abstained from keeping. Or we can conclude that their decisions while playing at the machine, will influence the final result.
In the preceding article, we mentioned that a specific type of video poker machine exists that does not work the way we noted above. These are the so-called video lottery terminals (VLTs), which in most cases do not use a random number generator, but are programmed to have a certain number of winners. In some cases, the machine where one plays is not the device that selects the winner. Instead, there may be another major device that connects all the individual VLTs in a particular casino, or even in a particular region.
Is it possible to recognize VLTs?
There is no immediate answer to this question, but here is what one may take into consideration:
1. To be aware of whether the individual is in a state that allows the use of VLTs. If a person is located in a state where no lottery exists, this may be an indication that casinos there offer real video poker machines (where one may demonstrate some skillful play).
Video Lottery Terminals Versus Slot Machines Dispense
2. To be aware that the majority of video poker machines, located in bars, saloons, restaurants, truck stops, and other establishments of this sort are almost 100% VLTs.
3. To be aware that, at this point, in rare cases, commercial casinos may have VLTs. However, this is subjected to change.
4. To be aware that casinos and other establishments, offering game machines, will often neither confirm nor deny the possibility of having VLTs within their premises. Some of them may have both VLTs and real video poker machines, but neither of the two types may be recognized by a player.
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Let us imagine that currently, we are in a country where casinos and other establishments are allowed to have VLTs on their commercial ground. We come across a particular machine and begin to wonder whether it is a real one or a VLT. As VLTs are quite reminiscent physically of real video poker machines, it is logical not to base our judgment solely on appearance. However, there may be some information located on the machine itself (manufacturer/brand) that may prove useful to us.
The video poker machine will most certainly be a VLT in one of the following cases:
Video Lottery Terminals Versus Slot Machines Win
Video Poker RNG
Video Poker Machines & Terminals
Video Poker Pay Tables
Expected Return and Value
Video Poker Pay Charts
1. The name of the manufacturer stated on the machine itself is GTECH or Spielo (a subsidiary of the first);
2. ”AURA” or ”Power Station 5” can be found above the machine's screen, which would suggest it is manufactured by GTECH;
3. The name of the manufacturer stated on the machine is Sodak, an International Game Technology (IGT) subsidiary, which produces Class II machines. The latter does not have a Random Number Generator and may or may not be labeled as VLTs;
4. The name of the manufacturer is World Touch Gaming, which produces VLTs.
When we begin playing one of the games the machine offers, an indication that the latter is a VLT will be the occurrence of one of the following events:
1. The machine offers a ”Match Card” option, which awards bonus credits at the end of the game;
2. The machine offers an ”automatic hold” on the buttons, which will not allow us to choose the cards, that will be kept;
3. The machine deals the final hand and we are not provided the opportunity to draw other cards;
4. After the game has ended a genie pops up on the screen and changes the cards.
Therefore, what we can do after we have identified that our machine is a VLT, is to simply keep our distance from it.