West Virginia State Lottery Officials Considering Proposal to Make Hollywood Casino in Charles Town Cashless

Officials with Hollywood Casino in Charles Town are aiming to make the casino cashless and the West Virginia Lottery Commission members are considering the proposal.

There was a long discussion at last month’s state Lottery Commission meeting about the proposal. Penn National owns Hollywood Casino in Charles Town. They have gone cashless at casinos they own in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

Some commission members raising concerns. Ken Greear, the state Lottery Commission Chairman, said the body wants to make sure it’s the right move for the players before approval.

“It’s just a matter of making sure the players do not have something that interrupts and or makes their enjoyment of the game more cumbersome or something that doesn’t work well,” Greear said.

The commission eventually decided to allow the project to move forward but they want to see it in action first before they give it final approval. Penn National’s proposal still must go through the testing process of the Lottery staff which is expected to take several months. Video Lottery machines would have to be modified.

Scott Saunders, VP and General Manager of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town, said that it could be launched late this year. He said as people get used to being cashless at the casino, they will become comfortable.

“I think the digital wallet and digital platform is the way many businesses are going and we want to make sure we are a part of that moving forward,” Saunders said.

Lottery Commission member Doug Bicksler spoke in favor of going cashless. “I don’t see this being any more cumbersome than cash,” he said.

Lottery Commission member Roy Shrewsbury said: “I need a better feeling. I need to see it in action.”

The plan will still have to come back to the commission for final approval.