West Virginia sports betting bill secures House committee’s nod

A bill seeking to legalize sports wagering in West Virginia has taken a a step closer to Gov. Jim Justice’s desk.

Barely a week after the Senate vote, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported that Senate Bill 415 has already won the approval of the House Finance Committee members. The bill will now head onto the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.

In recap, SB 415 would give the West Virginia Lottery Commission the authority to regulate sports betting in the state, including the authorization of online and mobile betting. The legislation required that players be older than 20.

The bill would permit the state’s five gaming facilities to offer sports betting, provided they obtain a five-year, sports betting operator license at a cost of up to $100,000 and pay 10 percent tax on their gross betting revenue.