West Virginia Lottery to Charities: Casino Night Fundraisers Are Illegal

West Virginia Lottery officials say “casino night” fundraisers conducted by charitable organizations are illegal but the Lottery does not have authority to crack down on such events.

County prosecutors have shown little interest in pursuing charges against members of local charitable organizations when the Lottery has forwarded information about illegal “casino nights” to them, Lottery director John Musgrave said.

Musgrave and the Lottery Commission discussed the issue during the commission’s meeting June 29, The Charleston Gazette reported.

“It is illegal, and we want to stop it, but we have to figure out how,” Musgrave said.

State law prohibits possession of roulette wheels and other gaming devices that aren’t licensed by the Lottery.

“We think it’s a major violation,” Musgrave said.

Commissioner David McCormick Jr. of Morgantown said such events could hurt the state’s casinos.

“If they have these casino nights in Morgantown and Clarksburg, that’s probably somebody not going to Wheeling to gamble,” he said.

Often, Lottery officials do not learn of “casino night” fundraisers until after the events are held, usually when local newspapers publish pictures and articles about them, Musgrave said.

Lottery counsel Danielle Boyd said the Lottery has sent letters to organizations informing them that the events are illegal lotteries subject to prosecution.

McCormick said raising awareness would help solve the problem.

“It’s just that they don’t know,” he said of the charitable groups. “You just need to get the word out that you can’t do this.”

Musgrave said legislation may need to be sought to give the Lottery Commission authority to crack down on the events.

Topics Virginia West Virginia