West Virginia
West Virginia ranks second in the nation for workplace fatality rate. Cuts could make it worse.
West Virginia had the second-deadliest workplace fatality rate in the country, behind Wyoming, according to the AFL-CIO’s annual Death on the Job report released last month. It tracks the number of workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses per state.
The state’s workplace fatality rate is twice the national average, and 58 West Virginians lost their lives on the job in 2023, up from 48 the year before.
Josh Sword, president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, a labor union that represents more than 80,000 people in the state, said West Virginia workers are more likely to be hurt or killed due to hazardous industries like mining, manufacturing and chemical production.
“This report is just more proof we aren’t taking workplace safety seriously in this state,” he said. “Clearly, we have more work to do to protect our workers.”
Labor leaders say more workers in the state could die due to cuts by the Trump administration that undermine worker safety.
The AFL-CIO report warned that Trump “has committed to repealing multiple regulations that protect workplace safety, as well as environmental and consumer regulations that protect Americans’ health and safety.”
Already, the administration has cut staff at an agency charged with keeping West Virginians safe on the job.
The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety is expected to lose 900 employees by July. The agency conducts safety research and recommends workplace policies.
This year marks 27 years since the AFL-CIO created Workers’ Memorial Day in 1998 to honor workers who were injured or killed on the job.
On a quiet Monday afternoon last month, a crowd of nearly 100 gathered on the banks of the Ohio River to commemorate the dozens of West Virginians who died on the job last year.
“If you really, really, really want to honor these fallen workers, don’t do it in a day,” Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, said to thundering applause.
After his speech, the names of the workers who died were read aloud, each followed by a bell toll.
Federal cuts are raising concerns
Last month, two-thirds of NIOSH employees were notified they’d be laid off by the summer.
Sword said he’s witnessed a surge in rollbacks of workplace protections across states, specifically targeting training and education programs.
“The work and research being done at NIOSH has been incredibly helpful,” Sword said. “It’s saved many lives.”
The agency works directly with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which enforces workplace safety rules. OSHA oversees inspections in the state by conducting investigations.
Like 27 other states, West Virginia does not have a state-approved OSHA plan and relies on federal regulations. But the agency only had six inspectors covering the entire state last year.
A U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson said the agency sets enforcement policies for workplaces that include targeted inspection programs. The agency is also in charge of responding to any fatalities and complaints.
“OSHA is a small agency with a large mission,” they said.
OSHA staff have helped to uncover dangerous working conditions in places like Hardy County, where a poultry plant had many violations and instances of serious worker injuries.
They’ve also issued thousands of dollars in fines for over a dozen safety violations for a timber company in Petersburg, including for an incident that resulted in an amputation. The company shut down last year.
However, because of the limited number of investigators, it would take OSHA 180 years to complete an inspection of every private workplace in West Virginia at least once, according to the AFL-CIO report.
Online casino revenue has never been higher in West Virginia.
That means plenty of customers are making deposits and playing games.
But, one of the keys to being among the top online casinos in West Virginia is having reliable and secure payout methods.
Online players need to know they will be able to receive their winnings in a timely and legal fashion. While iGaming platforms often promote their deposit methods, we’re taking a closer look at the available withdrawal options.
Top WV Online Casino Payout Methods
Options for withdrawing funds from a West Virginia online casino are a little more limited than deposit options.
Online casino operators are also slower to provide a withdrawal than a deposit, as they tend to review with payout to ensure the funds are going to the right person in a secured way.
Here’s a breakdown of the available withdrawal options for WV online casino players.
Online Banking
Online casinos typically use a company like Trustly to complete secure online banking transfers to make payouts.
This method will see the winnings deposited directly into the bank account that you provide.
Thousands of banks participate in these programs, so your bank is likely covered. Withdrawals can take 24 hours for online casinos to review, then 3-5 business days for your bank to process the funds.
eCheck/ACH
Most online casinos use VIP Preferred as a banking method option. This is a way to transfer funds through an electronic check that is done through ACH (Automated Clearing House). It’s the same option many companies use for making direct deposit payments to employees.
Electronic checks take 1-2 business days to be processed.
Debit Card
Debit cards are payment cards linked directly to your bank account. Most WV online casinos accept Visa and Mastercard from customers.
In many cases, the operator will require a user to make a deposit with the debit card before accepting any withdrawals being credited to the card. Payouts using a debit card will send the funds directly to your bank account.
Transactions using a debit card should appear in under 24 hours.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is an option that is available. It is a virtual wallet that holds debit and credit cards for customers. It is a convenient option for iPhone users that use mobile online casino platforms.
Payouts using Apple Pay are typically reflected in under 24 hours.
PayPal
PayPal is a virtual wallet that users can attach their debit cards or bank accounts to.
Online casinos require customers to have a Personal or Premier PayPal account if they are looking to use it as a payout method.
Withdrawals using PayPal take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.
Venmo
Another virtual wallet option that is owned by PayPal, Venmo links a user’s bank account and banking cards.
Just one Venmo account is allowed per customer at a given WV online casino.
Venmo withdrawals take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.
Play+
Play+ is an account that customers fund and then use those funds for various things like online gaming or online gambling.
West Virginia iGamers can fund and make deposits to their Play+ account through online casinos. In order to get a payout with your Play+ account, you must first make a deposit using the same account.
Payouts using Play+ should appear in your account in 24-48 hours.
Cash at Casino
Some online casinos will work with their retail partners for deposit and withdrawals.
Users have the option to visit the participating the retail casino location, make a cash withdrawal from their online account based on the funds they have available.
For this option, customers will need to have a valid ID photo and a transaction ID number from the online casino.
Wire Transfer
A wire transfer moves funds electronically from one account to another. However, this method is typically used for large sums or international banking.
West Virginia online casinos require large minimums in order to make a withdrawal using this method. These minimums are thousands of dollars.
Wire transfers tend to take 1-2 business days to take effect.
Check by Mail
If no other options work for you, West Virginia online casinos in most cases are willing to send you a paper check with your winnings.
Most require a certain minimum amount in order to use this method. Checks can take up to 14 business days to reach a user once sent.
Drew Ellis has experience covering the gambling industries in North America and around the world. Decades of media experience provide him with the background to handle the complexities of different gambling laws and policies around the United States and North America. Ellis has primarily focused on online and retail casino news since 2021. Prior to working in the gambling industry, Ellis spent over 20 years in the newspaper industry, covering sports and the gambling. His work for The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and The Oakland Press was recognized with awards by the Associated Press and other media organizations. Drew has also contributed to the Detroit Free Press and the Associated Press.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) – The Toughman Contest will return to Clarksburg this weekend for its 47th year, with the Nathan Goff Armory hosting the event for the 45th consecutive time.
The tournament was founded in 1979 in Bay City, Michigan by Art Dore, a former professional boxer. Dore later teamed up with Jerry Thomas to bring the event to West Virginia.
The contest is designed for amateur boxers, with no professionals allowed to compete. A new rule introduced this year prohibits former winners from competing in future Toughman contests.
“The event is three 1-minute rounds. Everyone wears 16 oz. gloves which is a training glove. There’s no headgear required for this now, hasn’t been for about 7 or 8 years and they get a one-minute rest between each round. We’ll have experienced trainers in each corner,” said Jerry Thomas, president of West Virginia Sports Promotions.
Two doctors will be ringside along with paramedics and EMTs from Harrison County Emergency Squad to tend to fighters after their bouts.
The tournament features five weight classes for both men and women. Fighters will weigh in Friday at 4 p.m., where matchmakers will determine opponents based on age, size and experience.
The single-elimination tournament begins Friday night, with all participants fighting once before returning Saturday to advance through the bracket until winners are crowned.
“The winners here in the men’s division will take home $1,000 for first place prize. The runner-up in each weight class will receive $500. The winner receives a nice Toughman jacket that you can only obtain by winning the tournament or working for the company,” Thomas said.
The weekend will also feature two professional fights. Friday’s bout will be a four-round super middleweight contest, and Saturday will feature an eight-round title fight for the vacant West Virginia cruiserweight championship.
Tickets and live streaming options can be purchased on their website. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before the event begins at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
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