West Virginia Gaming Center Holds Trial Run For Legalized Poker

West Virginia will soon be another in the growing number of states that will host legalized high stakes Poker games at their casinos.

Last week the state held a trial run in which two casinos, The Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming Resort, and, the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Center, offered No Limit Hold Em and other card games for the first time.

The proceeds from the night went to charity, but the fact that the casinos did not make a profit was irrelevant, as the night was mainly used as a trial for what is to come.

Lottery commission spokeswoman Nancy Bulla told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, "This gives employees time to practice. Moreover, for our purpose, it gives the lottery an opportunity to be certain security and operational guidelines, under the rules and regulations, have all the i's dotted and all the t's crossed."

The paper also reported that if all goes well with the trial, the hope is that the West Virginia Lottery Commission will be satisfied, and that legalized Poker could begin later this week.

Florida has recently went to these no limit Poker games and it has changed the landscape of poker in the Sunshine State. It used to be that the poker rooms were dominated by tournament play, but since the no limit games have been offered, virtually no tournaments are being held.

The same affect could happen in west Virginia since no limit games offer players the chance to make more money than in tournaments.

October 17, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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