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Know before you go as West Virginia sportsbooks will submit your winnings to IRS
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Offshore books look to maintain competitive edge through player anonymity and by not reporting taxes
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BetLucky.com app allows individuals to place bets anywhere within the state
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Customers must be 21 or older
CLAIM YOUR SIGNUP BONUS UP TO $1000 - CASH OUT WINNINGS ANY TIME SOON
The last remaining casinos in West Virginia have now opened their sportsbooks just in time for Thursday evening's Camping World Bowl game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Syracuse Orange.
Delaware North runs the newly opened retail sportsbooks at the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, in Wheeling, and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort near Charleston. All five of the state's casinos now have sportsbooks up and running.
But it gets even better.
Delaware North is now offering a sports betting app (BetLucky.com) that can be used to place real money wagers anywhere within the state. Those residing outside the state can also place real money wagers while in West Virginia.
Of course there is a catch. Unlike the offshore sportsbooks, BetLucky.com may request your social security number and they will report your winnings to the IRS. Even if the West Virginia sportsbooks don't collect your information on site, be forewarned that many of these operations have installed facial detection devices that register your identity.
While the 10% tax operators must pay to the state is low in comparison to states like Pennsylvania (36%), the burdensome nature is easy to see in their initial bonus offering, get paid 2X your first bet, but only up to $20. By comparison offshore sportsbooks tend to offer bonuses up to $1000, even more on occasion.
This is not to say there aren't advantages to playing at BetLucky.com. For one, there is the convenience factor as offshore companies are not permitted to offer apps in the States.
Those accessing the app or visiting in person to place a bet must be 21 years or older. This provides the international sportsbooks with a bit of an edge as they allow individuals 18 years or older to wager.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
