Last updated on: February 16th, 2023

Legal Virginia Sports Betting

Legal Virginia sports betting happens online. Whether using a Virginia sportsbook or online book, these are the only options. Retail sportsbooks in Virginia plan to launch in the future, but work must happen first. State-regulated sportsbooks have been active since January 2021. Meanwhile legal online sportsbooks accepting Virginia players have been around for years. Both are safe ways to bet on sports in Virginia, provided you use a licensed operator. Since launching, legal Virginia sportsbooks have accepted over $5 billion in wagers. But, this doesn’t include action on Virginia colleges, as they can’t accept these types of bets.

  • Active sportsbooks in Virginia are online with land-based following soon.
  • Legal online sportsbooks in VA offer more ways to bet than state-regulated books.

Legal 2023 March Madness Betting In Virginia

There are many options for legal betting on March Madness in 2023, with odds on every team before Selection Sunday. These future madness odds can hold more value, as the odds will shorten for the favorites as time goes on. Virginia players can place future or live March Madness wagers from their phone, by using Bovada, BetOnline, or any other legal sportsbook in VA. Whether betting on the Hokies to make a deep run or the Cavaliers to make it to the Final Four, VA sportsbooks have it all for the biggest tournament of the year.

Bovada March Madness Betting
Rank Sportsbook Bonus Offer Play Now
1 Bovada Online Sportsbook 50% Up To $250 Read Review Visit Bovada!
2 BetOnline Online Sportsbook 50% New Member Bonus!Read Review Visit BetOnline!
3 MyBookie Online Sportsbook 50% Up To $1,000 Read Review Visit MyBookie!
4 Xbet Online Sportsbook 100% Up To $300Read Review Visit Xbet!
5 Sportsbetting Online Sportsbook 50% Up To $1,000 Read Review Visit SportsBetting!

Is Bovada Legal In Virginia?

It is legal to use Bovada in Virginia to bet on sports online. Even opening their own industry, Virginia sports betting laws never mentioned offshore sites. This allows bettors in Virginia to use Bovada without any issues against the laws. Betting at Bovada in Virginia allows you to see more options than any local book too.

#1

Bovada Sportsbook

Virginia’s All-Around Online Sportsbook

Bovada is the best sportsbook for players in Virginia, without question. An excellent website, mobile and computer usage, and a large variety of odds from one of the most reliable bookmakers in the world makes Bovada a slam dunk choice for Virginia’s many sports bettors. Make sure to check them out.

Rating: 5 Star Rating

  • Quick Sign Up Process
  • Deep Player Props
  • Welcome Bonuses
  • Live Betting Features
  • Instant Banking Methods

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#2

BetOnline Sportsbook

Great Betting Lines And Odds

BetOnline is a very good sportsbook, especially for people in VA who want to bet on their local college teams. The regulated books in VA will not be allowed to offer odds on them, but sportsbooks like BetOnline easily process wagers on the Virginia Cavaliers and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

 

Rating: 5 Star Rating

  • Reliable Banking Methods
  • Strong Server Connection
  • 10+ Year Track Record
  • Huge Assortment Of Odds
  • No App Mobile Betting

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#3

MyBookie Sportsbook

A Great Choice For Virginia Residents

MyBookie’s online sports betting operation is a solid one, and it has a distinct advantage over local books in VA – it accepts wagers on VA college sports. The regulated books in VA do not, so if you want to bet on the Hokies or the Cavaliers, you’ll have to visit an online sportsbook like MyBookie.

Ratings: 5 Star Rating

  • Huge Player Bonuses
  • Consistent Odds
  • Easy Interface
  • Rapid Live Betting
  • Legal In Virginia

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#4

SportsBetting Sportsbook

Bet With Cryptocurrency

SportsBetting is an outstanding online sportsbook for anyone in VA to use thanks to their ability to offer wagers on college betting, something that the regulated books in the state cannot do. This makes SportsBetting a genuinely great option for anyone looking to wager on sports in Va, especially college sports.

Ratings: 5 Star Rating

  • Efficient Site Layout
  • Full Mobile Betting Suite
  • Available Customer Service
  • Trustworthy Banking Options
  • Fast Payout Times

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#5

XBet Sportsbook

Accepting New Players From Virginia

XBet’s major advantage over the regulated Virginia sportsbooks is that it accepts wagers on a large variety of subjects, including local Virginia college sports, something that the in-state sportsbooks do not. Additionally, XBet accepts wagers in cryptocurrency, meaning it not only has more wagers than local books, it has more ways to wager as well.

Ratings: 5 Star Rating

  • Worry-free Legal Betting
  • Exclusive Bonus Offers
  • Constantly Updated Odds
  • Premier User Experience
  • Full Mobile + Live Betting

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Virginia Sports Betting And Gambling Laws

The sports betting laws in Virginia have changed over the last few years. Beforehand, there weren’t any specific Virginia sports betting laws. Regulating in 2020, Virginia lawmakers changed this. Every Virginia gambling law is in the Virginia Code. Section 18.2-325 define illegal gambling. But, the majority of Virginia sportsbook laws focus on books, not the gamblers. Looking to dive deep into the Virginia sports betting laws and regulations? Check out Article 1 and 2 of Chapter 40 in Title 58.1.

The Outlook For Legalized Sports Betting In Virginia In 2023

Though Virginia legal sports betting is up and running, there will always be changes. The next focus is the launching of retail sportsbooks in Virginia. Many places began construction on a permanent Virginia sportsbook setup. This means many are preparing for the inevitable launch of sportsbooks in Virginia.

Aside from this, a removal of certain betting restrictions could play a role. In 2022, the Virginia Senate filed VA SB 576. This would have removed the prohibition on Virginia college teams betting. The measure passed in the Senate 23-17 but the House tabled it. This could take focus again in the 2023 legislative session.

Virginia Sports Betting Timeline

  • Apr 14, 2022 – Virginia lawmakers opt to ban the slogan “Virginia is for bettors” after the parody of “Virginia is for lovers” is used to advertise gambling.
  • Feb 7, 2022 – Virginia lawmakers are mulling an end to their in-state collegiate gambling restrictions.
  • Oct 14, 2021 – Golden Nugget opens up in VA, becoming the newest online sportsbook in the state.
  • Mar 29, 2021 – VA Gov. Ralph Northam expands  the number of sportsbooks that can be in VA to 12.
  • Feb 4, 2021 – William Hill opens up in VA, giving them five online sportsbooks in advance of the Super Bowl.
  • Jan 21, 2021 – FanDuel launches early  in Virginia as the first online sportsbook in the state.
  • Oct 15, 2020 – The Virginia Lottery begins accepting applications from prospective VA sportsbooks.
  • Jul 16, 2020 – Virginia’s sports betting rules and regulations are now available for all to see.
  • Apr 22, 2020 – Gov. Ralph Northam signs House Bill 896, House Bill 4, and Senate Bill 384, which regulate sports betting in VA. He only does so after the House and Senate pass emergency amendments to them in order to get his signature.
  • Apr 12, 2020 – Gov. Ralph Northam has sent the proposed sports betting bills back to the state legislature for amendments, as he does not want to sign them in their current form.
  • Feb 25, 2020 – VA HB 4, the major bill that would regulate sports betting in VA, has passed the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee.
  • Feb 12, 2020 – There are multiple possible bills that would regulate sports betting in VA that could pass in 2020.
  • Mar 30, 2019 – Gov. Ralph Northam signs SB 1126. The bill would regulate gaming in Virginia, but requires an affirmative re-enactment in next year’s legislative session.

Where’s The Closest Place To Me To Bet?

There are many places in Virginia to bet on sports as they are all online. Four cities in Virginia received approval in November 2020 to offer sports betting. This came by voter referendum. If you want to bet on sports in person in Virginia, you have limited options. The Hard Rock Sportsbook in Bristol Virginia is the only open retail sportsbook, for now. As they build a permanent Bristol sportsbook, you will find 19 kiosks and 5 betting windows.

Find the Bristol Hard Rock Sportsbook at 500 Gate City Hwy. Kiosks are open 24/7 while the ticket windows fluctuate hours depending on the day of the week. A 5 hour drive from Richmond, bettors may find it easier to visit Washington DC sportsbooks.

Cities Approved For Legal VA Sportsbooks

  • Norfolk
  • Danville
  • Bristol
  • Portsmouth

What Teams Can I Bet On?

Virginia has the unhappy distinction of being the most populous state in the nation without a major professional sports franchise in any of the four main professional leagues. This is due to several factors, not least of which is the Commonwealth’s close proximity to teams located in Washington, D.C. and the Carolinas, and the additional impediment of a lack of political will to finance the construction of sports stadiums using public monies. The situation among college teams in Virginia is a little different than that of professional teams, but Division 1 schools like the Virginia Cavaliers and the Virginia Tech Hokies are successful in the realm of athletics in spite of, not because of, politics at the statehouse. State funds are ineligible for use by collegiate athletics programs for either operational or capital expenses, so no new facilities can be built with taxpayer support.

Nevertheless, Virginians love their sports. They have good reason to be, being geographically situated near the home turf of the NFL’s Washington Football, who play in nearby Landover, Maryland close to the nation’s capital across the Potomac River. Washington’s two primary training camps, however, are located in Virginia, with the team’s headquarters and training facility being situated in Ashburn and Richmond, Virginia. Aside from these, VA sports fans can place bets on any professional and collegiate teams on websites such as Bovada, BetOnline, and SportsBetting. Unlike the upcoming state-sanctioned sportsbooks, these books allow bettors in Virginia to safely place bets on in-state collegiate sports teams and players.

Popular Teams To Bet On In Virginia

Washington Commanders – NFL Washington Capitals – NHL Washington Wizards – NBA
Washington Nationals – MLB George Mason Patriots – NCAA(D1) Hampton Pirates and Lady Pirates – NCAA(D1)
James Madison Dukes – NCAA(D1) Liberty Flames and Lady Flames – NCAA(D1) Longwood Lancers – NCAA(D1)
Norfolk State Spartans – NCAA(D1) Old Dominion Monarchs – NCAA(D1) Radford Highlanders – NCAA(D1)
Richmond Spiders – NCAA(D1) VCU Rams – NCAA(D1) Virginia Cavaliers – NCAA(D1)
VMI Keydets – NCAA(D1) Virginia Tech Hokies – NCAA(D1) William & Mary Tribe – NCAA(D1)
Emory and Henry Wasps – NCAA(D2) Virginia State Trojans – NCAA(D2) Virginia Union Panthers – NCAA(D2)
Virginia–Wise Cavaliers – NCAA(D2) Averett Cougars – NCAA(D3) Bridgewater Eagles – NCAA(D3)
Christopher Newport Captains – NCAA(D3) Eastern Mennonite Royals – NCAA(D3) Ferrum Panthers – NCAA(D3)
Hampden–Sydney Tigers – NCAA(D3) Hollins – NCAA(D3) Lynchburg Hornets – NCAA(D3)
Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels – NCAA(D3) Mary Washington Eagles – NCAA(D3) Marymount Saints – NCAA(D3)
Randolph WildCats – NCAA(D3) Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets – NCAA(D3) Roanoke Maroons – NCAA(D3)
Shenandoah Hornets – NCAA(D3) Southern Virginia Knights – NCAA(D3) Sweet Briar Vixens – NCAA(D3)
Virginia Wesleyan Marlins – NCAA(D3) Washington and Lee Generals – NCAA(D3)

Where To Bet On NFL Games In Virginia?

Many legal betting sites offer odds for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, and the other 30 NFL teams in the US. While there are not currently any land-based sites for NFL betting in Virginia, there are many online sportsbooks that can be accessed by all VA players from anywhere in the state. These sites all offer future Super Bowl 58 odds, along with divisional, conference, and thousands of props during the 2023-24 season.

How To Bet On The Hokies In Virginia

Sports bettors of Virginia can run into some issues when attempting to place certain types of wagers. This is due to state laws, which prohibit bettors of the state from betting on in-state colleges, college events that take place within the state’s borders, and college proposition bets. Virginia bettors looking to wager on Virginia Tech games can still do so by using an overseas-based online sportsbook, which operates outside of the jurisdiction of U.S. state and federal laws.

Mobile Sports Betting In Virginia

Mobile sports betting in Virginia is available via two main paths. The first path is the path of using regulated sportsbook apps to place your bets. The second path is the path of using offshore sportsbook options. Each of these paths contains mobile betting options, but they vary in important details.

Regulated sportsbooks, such as FanDuel or PointsBet, have apps available for you to download on various app stores. The major upside of these apps is they are very easy to find and use, and can offer quick deposits via bank processing.

Offshore sportsbooks do not offer apps, and instead provide mobile websites. The major advantage here is that there is no limit on who can use these services – you don’t need to download anything, so your phone will never be out of date. The offshore books also offer a wider variety of wagers, as they are allowed to offer bets on non-sporting events.

Virginia Sportsbook Bonuses

While there are plenty of online sportsbooks in Virginia, the best of them will offer big bonuses as well. By our estimation, the best sportsbook bonuses can be found offshore, are usually deposit bonuses, and usually can be accessed when using cryptocurrency. Let’s take a look at the best online sportsbook bonuses in Virginia.

VA Online Sportsbook Bonuses

Sportsbook: Bonus: Percent Bonus:
Bovada Bitcoin Welcome Bonus 75%
BetOnline Sports Welcome Bonus 50%
MyBookie First Deposit Bonus 100%
BetUS 200% Crypto Sign Up Bonus 150% Sports + 50% Casino
SportsBetting Sports Welcome Bonus 50%

Land Based Retail Sportsbooks In Virginia

Virginia currently does not offer land-based sports betting, as their integration into the sports betting world came at a time where there were no casinos in Virginia. Four cities have been approved to build casinos, while Richmond is still debating whether or not to have one – and how to allow one if possible. An initial vote saw the Richmond casino turned down by voters in a close race, but a recent judge ruling means that the question could be posted to Virginia’s voters once more.

Betting Restrictions In Virginia

Only a few limitations are present for Virginia sportsbooks. The important thing to keep in mind is that these betting restrictions are only for local books. Any sportsbook located in Virginia must follow this protocol. But, any online sportsbook accepting Virginia bettors have their own standards to follow. This is why you find a larger selection of betting types and odds at online books.

What Can’t I Bet On At Virginia Sportsbooks?

  • Any youth sporting event.
  • Bets on Virginia colleges and universities.
  • Prop bets on any college sports team.
  • Props on injuries, officiating calls, and unsportsmanlike situations.
  • Heisman betting odds or any other “subjective trophy awards”.
  • Any professional sporting league’s draft.

Virginia And Tennessee Sports Betting

Virginia and Tennessee have effectively the same method of sports betting regulation at the moment – mobile sportsbooks are the only game in town. Tennessee was a pioneer of this method, although it should be noted that Virginia is looking to open multiple casinos that will be able to offer sports betting as well. Still, after the success Tennessee had, Virginia’s own success should come as no surprise – they’ve both been very successful launches, demonstrating the power of mobile sports betting as a revenue driver.

Virginia Sports Betting Revenue

Virginia sportsbooks became a top-10 betting state less than a year after launching. In total, the amount of money bet on sports in Virginia exceeds $6 billion in bets. This equals to over $39 million in benefits from Virginia sports betting taxes. Before paying these taxes, VA sportsbooks collected $517 million in revenue.

FanDuel Sportsbook in Virginia accounted for 42.7% of all bets in 2021 up to November. DraftKings came in second at 26.7% of the betting handle. After BetMGM’s near 18%, no other sportsbook in VA held a market share above 8.5%. Surprisingly, betting on pro basketball in Virginia took the top spot, with over a fifth of all money bet. Football followed behind at 17.3% but even betting parlays in Virginia was more common (18.4%).

Virginia Sportsbook Records

  • Most Money Bet In A Month: December 2022 ($503,075,150)
  • Most Money Won By VA Sportsbooks: November 2021 ($48.3 million)
  • Worst Month For VA Sports Bettors: July 2021 (87.7% win rate)

Horse Racing Betting In Virginia

Betting on horse racing in Virginia is legal, but its pari-mutuel sibling, greyhound racing, is not. Furthermore, off-track betting at licensed satellite facilities is also legal at any of the state’s local tracks. Legal horse racing betting sites are usually the most convenient option for horseplayers in Virginia. With these online racebooks, residents have instant access to major tracks all over the United States and across the seas. We recommend sites like SportsBetting and Bovada for legal horse racing betting in Virginia.

Daily Fantasy Sports In Virginia

With the signing of the Fantasy Contests Act, Virginia’s legislature could be said to have saved the entire daily fantasy sports (DFS) industry. This act outlined how DFS can legally operate in the state, becoming the first state in the nation to formally recognize DFS for what it is: a game of skill that, yes, allows players to win money for correctly picking the right lineup of athletes. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed the bill into law in the face of attempts around the country to designate daily fantasy sports as sports betting, which would make it an illegal practice in many states.

However, Virginia was having none of that, and the voice of the people was heard, preserving DFS as a regulated industry which residents in the Old Dominion can freely enjoy. DFS operators have to pay a fee of $50,000 to operate in the state, ban employees of DFS sites from participating in public contests and ensure all players are 18 years old and up, among other common-sense consumer protections. The reaction from the daily fantasy sports industry leaders DraftKings and FanDuel was understandably ecstatic, calling the Fantasy Contests Act a thoughtful and appropriate regulatory framework for the protection of fantasy players’ rights.

Ways To Fund A Virginia Sportsbook Account

Getting money into your Virginia sports betting account depends on the book you use. Most are similar across the board but the methods, fees, and maximums all vary. Online sportsbooks taking Virginia players is the only way to bet crypto in Virginia. Both online books and Virginia-based sportsbooks accept credit cards though. Some of the most popular sportsbook deposit methods include:

Cryptocurrency Sports Betting In Virginia

Virginia has options for cryptocurrency sports betting, although they are only at the international sportsbooks. The state-regulated books in VA are unable to process crypto transactions, but the international online sportsbooks absolutely can, which makes it a compelling option for those who wish to achieve bigger bonuses as well as faster deposit and withdrawal times.

Crypto Advantages In VA

Crypto: Credit Cards: Money Orders: Wire Transfers:
Biggest Bonuses Yes No No No
Fastest Deposit Times Yes No No No
Withdrawal Option Yes No Yes Yes

Can I Bet Real Money On Sports In Virginia?

You can absolutely bet real money on sports in Virginia, but the only way to do so without running afoul of the law is to do your wagering at what we think are the best of the best among legal offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, SportsBetting, and BetOnline. In order to get started betting on your favorite teams though, you will need to first deposit money in your account and to do that you will have to jump through a few hoops created by the passage of the UIGEA.

The UIGEA’s prohibitions against financial institutions processing transaction requests related to online gambling mean that even legal offshore sports betting sites like our top picks won’t be able to reliably accept all the major US credit cards all the time. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, but the best options for making deposits remain the faithful ole method of a check in the mail or the newfangled Bitcoin, which will discuss in a later section of this guide to legal Virginia sports betting.

What Is the Sports Betting Age In Virginia?

The minimum age necessary to participate in any of the few forms of gambling that Virginia allows is 21, so we can only recommend that you follow that lead and wait until you are at least that old before betting on sports at a legal offshore sportsbook like the ones we recommend. Because these sportsbooks are based overseas where gambling laws only require that players attain a minimum age of 18 before gambling, our top recommended sites will accept players as young as 18. However, it would be a wise course of action to wait until you’re the legal sports betting age of 21 just to be on the safe side. There’s nothing to be gained a much to be lost by tiptoeing around the line of legality.

What Are The Details Of VA Sports Betting Licenses?

Virginia allows 12 different sports betting licenses to be applied for. Each license requires the payment of an initial $250,000 fee. This fee is repeated every three years, as the licenses only last that long. Additionally, sportsbooks are responsible for the cost of a background check on every member of their organization, an expensive process. This effectively limits VA’s market to only the biggest and most established sportsbooks.

Virginia Sportsbooks

Bally Bet Sportsbook

Bally Bet, run by the famous Bally’s Corporation, is one of the better online sportsbooks available in Virginia. It will have the limitations that all local sportsbooks have – no crypto and no in-state college betting – but other than that is a completely fine option for anyone looking to wager on sports in VA.

Barstool Sportsbook

Barstool Sportsbook is famous for high hold percentages, which means you should be very careful about accepting any of their odds without shopping around first. In Virginia, they are not allowed to offer odds on college basketball, college football, or any other college team that plays in the state of VA.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook

Golden Nugget Sportsbook was one of the best sportsbooks in Virginia for bonuses. But, they have since stopped operation. DraftKings shut down the book due to their acquisition of Golden Nugget. This happened in May 2022.

Bet365 Sportsbook

As the newest sportsbook in Virginia, bet365 has yet to launch. But, they are looking to be live before 2022 ends. They earned their license under Hillside (Virginia) LLC after Golden Nugget closed. Once paperwork is final, bet365 will launch as the newest Virginia online sportsbook.

WynnBet Sportsbook

WynnBet, run by casino giant Wynn, is a very reasonable online sportsbook for players in the state of VA. It has the typical downsides of a sportsbook that is located in VA, such as no crypto, no esports and no college betting, but it is one of the better versions of a sportsbook like that for VA players to use.

UniBet Sportsbook

UniBet Sportsbook is a great option for bettors in VA, although it does come with the expected issues that happen at every state regulated VA book. You cannot use cryptocurrency with UniBet, nor can you wager on in-state college sports as well as esports and politics/entertainment betting. If you’re willing to live with this, UniBet is very good at most other areas of sports betting.

PointsBet Sportsbook

PointsBet Sportsbook is a great online sportsbook for VA bettors to use, and it’s a great online sportsbook in general. You can access a lot at PointsBet, although you are giving up some things by choosing to use a retail book. For example, you can’t bet on esports or in-state college games at PointsBet.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the biggest sportsbooks in the entire country, and it’s a top option in VA. It does have the typical drawbacks of a VA sportsbook, such as not accepting cryptocurrency and not offering in-state betting. An upside is that it comes attached to a great DFS operation as well.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is a very popular and well regarded sportsbook for VA players. With a large variety of wagers, solid bonuses, and a lot of different ways to wager, it’s one of the best regulated books in VA. Of course, any regulated book will have less wagers available than a comparable offshore book, and this is true of DK as well.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook has been making plays with the goal of attaining increased market share in Virginia, which means you can get solid bonuses with them at the moment. They still do not offer in-state college betting, or any kind of politics or entertainment betting, which puts them behind the offshores available in VA.

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers is a solid sportsbook for anyone in VA to use, thanks to their well-executed and implemented sports betting app. However, they are limited in terms of the wagers they are allowed to offer compared to any offshore sportsbook. If you’re insistent on using a regulated book, BetRivers is a solid choice.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM is a great online sportsbook that has been opening up around America in recent years. Run by MGM Resorts, one of the biggest gambling companies in America, it has a lot of money to burn when it comes to player acquisition, meaning they can offer very solid bonuses. While it does have all the downsides of regulated books, it’s still a very solid option in Virginia.

The Richmond Casino Controversy

When Virginia first approved sports betting, it did so at the same time as approving casino gambling expansion in the state. Five cities were given permission to open casinos, and only four of them have. Richmond, the remaining city, has not approved a casino, with the most recent attempt failing in a close vote.

The proposed project, ONE Casino + Resort, was billed as the first black-owned casino in the country. The vote was very close, but it did not pass. A judge ruled that another attempt was legally permissible, and so another attempt will likely be made, but there are challenges in the legal system to that as well.

In June, the Richmond General Assembly passed a budget provision that explicitly prevented Richmond from holding another ballot referendum on the subject. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a supporter of ONE Casino, is threatening legal action in response to that budget provision, calling it a “deliberate harm” to the city of Richmond.

The opposition to the second referendum is built around the idea that, if Richmond does not approve a casino, neighboring Petersburg could get a shot. The budget also includes money for a study on the economic feasibility of a Petersburg casino, rather than a Richmond one. Since there are only five casino licenses, and only one unclaimed, the fight over it will likely be a dogged one.

Recent Virginia Sports Betting News

The major developments in sports betting in Virginia recently have been cursory. The state legislature passed a bill banning the usage of “Virginia is for bettors” as a sports betting slogan, a play on VA’s famous “Virginia is for lovers” slogan. There were multiple attempts to repeal the ban on collegiate wagering in VA, but they did not pass – which perhaps is good, considering that Richmond upset Iowa in the NCAA tournament, an eventuality which would surely have cost VA sportsbooks a ton of money.

Latest News

Legal Virginia Sports Betting FAQs

Is Online Sports Betting Safe In Virginia?

Yes, since Virginia regulated sports betting, online in-state sportsbooks offer the same betting options for all Virginia residents. These sportsbooks are accessible from anywhere in Virginia and residents and tourists alike can trust these operators to be fair and safe. The gaming authorities of both the local books and international sportsbooks demand the highest levels of security for players’ personal and financial information.

Who Regulates Virginia Sports Betting

Virginia sports betting is regulated by the Virginia Lottery, which controls the issuing of sports betting licenses. This is a common setup – sports betting industries in most states are controlled by either lottery or gaming commissions.

Will I Get Arrested For Online Sports Betting In Virginia?

The simple answer to this question is no. There has never been an instance of a Virginia resident getting into trouble with the law for online sports betting because the Commonwealth doesn’t have any law on the books that relate specifically to online gambling. Who could be liable to land themselves in a mess of trouble are operators of unlawful sports gambling sites based in the US. Federal law does specifically target gambling operations it deems to be illegal and the operators of these businesses can face severe penalties including fines and prison sentences if found guilty. Nevertheless, individual players have nothing to fear from federal or state laws. Legal Virginia sports betting online is called “legal” for a reason – there’s no law to break, so you aren’t breaking the law.

Where Is The Best Place To Bet On Sports In Virginia?

There isn’t anywhere in Virginia that you can legally bet on sports, but you can drive to Delaware Park Casino in Delaware or Hollywood Casino at Charles Town West Virginia and place land-based bets there. A much better solution on multiple levels is to simply head over to Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline and MyBookie, the industry-leading legal offshore sports betting sites. Those are our highest-recommended sites for legal Virginia sports betting because they combine reliable payouts, tight security for your personal information and tons of odds on all Virginia’s favorite sports with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are doing so legally. All our top picks among sports betting sites based overseas are regulated and licensed by their home countries’ gaming authorities, so there’s nothing to worry about there.

Should I Use A Local Bookie In Virginia?

There is no situation imaginable in which you should even feel somewhat slightly tempted to use a local bookie in Virginia. It’s illegal according to the state’s laws against most forms of gambling and according to all-pervading federal prohibitions on sports betting in all but four states – of which Virginia isn’t one. But what’s more, there is simply no need to use a local bookie for any reason, not given how easy it is to place bets on sports legally at offshore sports betting sites like the ones we’ve recommended throughout this guide.

The sports betting sites we think best represent the ultra-competitive segment’s virtues are far more reliable than any shady local bookie and they even have more options when it comes to odds available on a Redskins or Hokies football game than do many of the brick-and-mortar sportsbooks out in Las Vegas. If you’re interested in legal Virginia sports betting, don’t even give a local bookie a second thought.

Do Any Casinos In Virginia Have Sports Betting?

There are no casinos in Virginia per state law, so there couldn’t be any casinos in Virginia that have sports betting either. However, the legal offshore sports betting sites we recommend – Bovada, MyBookie, BetOnline and SportsBetting, all have the very best in available moneylines on the sports Virginians love, from football to NASCAR. Additionally, all our leading sportsbooks picks have got casino sections on their sites as well, so you can enjoy legally playing table games, card games and even slots – all for real money and all perfectly legal.

Can I Bet On Sports With My Friends In Virginia?

Betting on sports with your friends in Virginia is easy due to mobile sports betting apps available to be downloaded for free at our leading legal offshore sports betting sites, but it’s good to know that the Commonwealth doesn’t have a single law on the books to stop you from betting with sports in the privacy of your home either. Virginia Code § 18.2-334 makes a provision for participating in any game of chance so long as it is conducted in a private residence (and one that “is not commonly used for such games of chance”) and if there is no “operator” as defined in Virginia Code § 18.2-325. According to that section of the legal code, an operator is “any person, firm or association of persons, who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs or owns all or part of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity or operation.”

When Will Sports Betting Become Legal In Virginia?

Since Virginia has already passed the sports betting bill to bring regulated betting to the state in April of 2020. Virginia sports bettors won’t have to wait long for legal sports betting at casinos. The official launch of online sportsbooks in Virginia happened in late January of 2021. But, there are also other internationally-regulated online sportsbooks that have been serving VA bettors for many years.

How Many Sportsbooks Are In Virginia?
Virginia is one of the few states that has zero gambling establishments from sportsbooks to casinos. Their mindset is soon to change, as legislators have agreed to begin the discussion of gambling expansion. Still, there are no sportsbooks in Virginia and those looking to wager at a brick and mortar venue will have to travel into Washington DC, West Virginia, or take the even longer trip to Pennsylvania or North Carolina. If these aren’t legitimate options, using an offshore sports betting site remains to be the best situation.
Has Virginia Opened Their Own Mobile Sportsbooks?

Yes, Virginia has launched their mobile sports betting industry as of 2021 even before their retail venues have fully opened their doors. FanDuel became the first sportsbook to unveil their mobile platform to the sports bettors of Virginia just in time for Super Bowl 55. Other platforms like DraftKings, BetMGM, and BetRivers launched less than a week after FanDuel.