A decision by the West Virginia Lottery Commission could bring more players to the state’s casinos that don’t have to travel very far to get there.
The commission amended its “who can play” policy at its Wednesday meeting to say employees at the casinos who aren’t directly associated with gambling operations can play when off duty.
State Lottery Director John Musgrave says the previous language required employees to travel to other casinos if they wanted to gamble.
“They (casinos) are asking that if people who aren’t really licensed on the floor can play. So we’re trying to clarify that,” Musgrave said.
The change would impact workers in food service, custodial services or other jobs not directly associated with video gambling, table games, horse and dog racing. For example, at Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino in Chester
Musgrave says the policy remains restrictive for those who actually run or oversee the gambling operations.
“If you work in an area you can’t play in it,” he said. “No one (no employees) can play in the table games area.”
The change is seen as a move to help the casinos in the northern panhandle who have been losing customers to new gambling operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio
Meanwhile, the West Virginia Lottery revenue numbers for January outperformed estimates. Total revenue for the month was reported at Wednesday’s meeting at $101.5 million, which is 13.5 percent above estimate. All gambling sectors were up from the month from traditional games to table games.
After seven months of the fiscal year the Lottery has brought in just under $766 million, which is 16 percent above estimate
