With a New Act, the West Virginia Market Will Prioritize Responsible Gambling
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The Minority Whip of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Shawn Fluharty, has elevated responsible gaming to a prominent position in the Mountain State. Fluharty was a sponsor of the West Virginia Responsible Gaming and Research Act (RGRA), along with Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw. Just last week, the measure was presented to the House.
To promote responsible gaming in West Virginia, RGRA would compel operators to provide data to the university for research reasons.
The West Virginia Responsible Gaming and Research Act
On February 13, Hanshaw and Fluharty, who is also the president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), introduced HB 5668. The measure supports efforts to promote responsible gaming by adding to the West Virginia Code of 1931.
In order to effectively treat and prevent problem gambling, it is intended to assist the state in gathering more data on player behavior. In order to support the Department of Human Services, the State Lottery Commission, or a successor agency or agencies in maintaining the integrity of gaming or enhancing state-funded services linked to, or general understanding of, responsible gambling and problem gambling, the bill requires any operator, management service provider, racing operator, sports pool operator, sports pool intermediary, Special Licensed Retailer, and/or iLottery operator or vendor to provide West Virginia University with all transactional data and metrics related to their mobile gaming operations conducted in the state on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
A thorough report describing the actions of bettors in the Mountain State would result from the information provided by operators over the next months and years.
Responsible gambling is a prominent interest in the state since licensed WV online casinos and sportsbooks have been operating for several years as of 2024.
