Fortunately for poker players, West Virginia is a friendly state when it comes to legal gambling. In fact, there are two legal online sportsbooks connected to commercial casinos in the state. However, the state isn’t known for its laissez faire attitude when it comes to gambling, in the traditional sense.

West Virginia may not be the first state to pop in your mouth, but it is certainly not the last. To put things in perspective, there are 14 sportsbooks in Old Dominion. With the number of sites and locations growing at a breakneck pace, it is no wonder that the state has more poker players than any other jurisdiction in the country. That is not to mention the numerous licensed and unlicensed players that rake in the cash.

As for gambling on land, a hefty 10% hold is required, but in the virtual realm, things are much, much different. If the state were to adopt a regulated model, the benefits would likely outweigh the costs. There are numerous other gambling venues besides the casino floor, namely lotteries, billiards, and bowls. The most lucrative of these may be the plethora of poker rooms, some of which can be accessed by mail or telephone. And as with all enclaves, the state is a hive of activity in the evenings and on weekends. Despite all this, the state is still a long way off the epicenter of the gambling hamlet, Nevada. Nonetheless, it’s only a matter of time before the state is engulfed by the Big Four.