West Virginia Attorney General, JB McCuskey has issued subpoenas to online sweepstakes casinos serving players in the Mountain State. That’s according to Casino Reports, a gambling news site.
It seems that Republican AG, McCuskey, who only began his term last month, has wasted no time targeting sweepstakes operators. He previously stated: “From day one, my priority has been to protect consumers and ensure our children are not being exposed to these operations or their advertising – while at the same time supporting those which are licensed and operating within the confines of the law.”
Under West Virginia law, the Attorney General does not comment on or publish information on issued subpoenas until a response is received. This means any details on the operators served, or how many there are in total, aren’t yet public. However, we can safely assume that Jackpota’s exit from WV signifies that some B2 brands must have been targeted.
Could Legal Action Follow?
A subpoena requests that a company provide information or documents as part of an investigation. Therefore, we can assume McCuskey has issued these to gather evidence before deciding on any legal action against the sweepstakes casinos in question.
While it’s highly unlikely all sweepstakes casinos operating in the state were targeted, action against one or a small group would likely encourage all other operators to pull out. It’s worth noting that ignoring a subpoena can result in legal action, potentially including fines or contempt of court.
Cease and desist letters are another potential strategy, although these are yet to be deployed in West Virginia. However, we have seen them used by gaming regulators in other states like Michigan and Maryland. For example, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency recently issued cease and desists to 12 online casinos and sportsbooks.
West Virginia’s Gambling Landscape
West Virginia is one of only seven US states that currently allow online casinos to operate within their borders. The Mountain State legalized online casinos, sports betting, and online poker in 2019. That was shortly after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Like most other states, some land-based casinos are also allowed to operate there.
Shutting down unregulated sweepstakes casinos would help ensure that all online casinos in West Virginia fall under the state’s licensed framework. Given that regulated internet casinos in WV generated $27 million in revenue in December 2024 (an all-time high), keeping the market taxable will be a priority for state officials.
This news comes amidst widespread tensions between sweepstakes casinos and lawmakers and regulators in the US in 2025. Earlier this month, Mississippi lawmakers introduced a bill to outlaw sweeps sites in the state. Meanwhile, a state senator in New York has voiced intentions to ban sweeps sites in the Empire State.
Author: Mike F.
Updated:
