โญ Virginia Online Gambling
The state of Virginia legalized online gambling in the form of sports betting in 2020. The Virginia sports betting market went live in January 2021, and since then, several sportsbooks have opened in the state. Online casinos were not a part of the Virginia gambling laws, but with the building of new land-based casinos, the gambling law might change quicker than anticipated. In just six months of operations, Virginia is one of the top betting states in terms of the betting handle. VA state sportsbooks have taken more than $1.3 billion in legal bets until June 2021 since sports betting debuted on 21 January 2021 in the state.
Virginia Online Gambling Operations | Details | Status |
---|---|---|
Legal Online Sportsbooks | Yes | Live |
Legal VA Online Casinos | No | N/A |
โญ Virginia Sports Betting
Legal, real-money sports betting in Virginia became a reality when online sportsbooks officially opened in January 2021. The state had already passed gambling laws legalizing sports betting. However, the betting launch took its time, as there were no casino gambling venues in Virginia that could offer sports betting. At the moment, Virginia sportsbooks operate only online, making Virginia only the second sports betting state in the US to legalize online-only sports betting. Voters have approved brick-and-mortar casinos with the November 3, 2020 ballot. VA State laws allow for up to twelve online mobile sports betting apps, but only 7 of those online betting licenses were used by June 2021.
Virginia Betting Sites
Many sportsbooks have obtained a Virginia sports betting license so far. Fanduel Sportsbook got a head start with their partnership with Washington Football Team. DraftKings Sportsbook, BetRivers and BetMGM Virginia were the next sports betting sites to follow. Virginia betting sites give players up to $1,000 in bonuses.
VA Sportsbook | Betting Bonus | Sportsbook Promo Code |
---|---|---|
BetMGM Sportsbook VA / Roar Digital | 100% up to $1,000 risk free bet | BONUSMGM |
Caesars Sportsbook | $1,100 first bet insurance | FINDERCZR |
BetRivers / Rush Street | 100% up to $250 deposit bonus | FINDER |
DraftKings VA | 20% up to $1,000 deposit match | N/A, use our link |
FanDuel VA | $1,000 risk free bet | N/A, use our link |
WynnBET VA | Bet $50 Win $200 | N/A, use our link |
Unibet Virginia | $100 risk free bet | N/A, use our link |
Bally Bet | $100 free bet + $550 risk-free bet | N/A, use our link |
Golden Nugget Virginia | TBD ($250 risk free bet likely) | N/A, use our link when site is live |
SI Sportsbook Virginia | TBD (bet $10 Get $50 free bets) | N/A, use our link when site is live |
Barstool (Penn Sports Interactive) | $10 free money bonus + a $1,000 risk free wager | N/A, use our link |


WynnBET entered VA online gambling market in March 2021. Mobile only sportsbook.
โญ Online Gambling in Virginia
Virginia residents can enjoy several forms of online gambling, including online betting, daily fantasy sports, horse racing, and games of chance provided by the Virginia State lottery. Virginia was the first state to legalize daily fantasy sports acknowledging the activity as a game of skill. However, casino games are not yet available in the Old Dominion.
Gambling Regulations
The gambling law that regulates online gambling in the State of Virginia quite similar to other states. In order to participate in regulated online gambling, you must be 21 years of age (21+). For daily fantasy sports the gambling age limit is 18. Furthermore, any Virginia resident above the age of 18 can purchase Virginia lottery tickets. If you want to play at Virginia gambling sites, you must be located within the state borders. Out of state play is not allowed.
Online Sports Betting
The U.S Supreme Court removed the ban on sports betting (PASPA) back in 2018. Virginia betting law passed in 2020. Online sportsbooks in Virginia finally opened in 2021. Interestingly, Virginia gambling laws allow betting on a professional sports venue to be built in the state. This could include a potential NFL, NHL, NBA, or MLS venue. Betting on college sports teams located in Virginia is not allowed in the state.
Virginia Casinos and Gambling
Virginia does not currently have any land-based casinos, and real money online gambling sites are still illegal, with the exception of sports betting. However, several land based casinos have been allowed in cities across the state, as long as the cities satisfy certain requirements.
- The poverty rate in the city is 20% or higher.
- Unemployment is 4% higher or more than the state’s overall rate.
- The population in the city has decreased by 20% or more in the past year.
- More than 40% of city real estate is tax-exempt.
VA Casino Gambling Cities
Accordingly, legislation was passed allowing casinos gambling in the following five cities:
- Bristol
- Danville
- Norfolk
- Portsmouth
- Richmond (referendum is due)
Voters in all cities except Richmond have formally approved the project. The $600 Richmond One Casino & Resort, if approved in 2 November casino referendum, will be the only casino in the US under black ownership. The project includes a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, hotel, and theatre among other things.
Virginia Online Casinos
The favorable attitude towards casinos and the ongoing Virginia gambling boom might mean that online casino sites might be introduced next. The building of casino establishments is clearly a plan to revitalize cities in an economic downturn. Legalizing online casinos would therefore make sense in the Virginia gambling industry due to the potential revenue opportunity.
Historical Horse Racing
The Virginia gambling boom started with Historical Horse Racing or HHR. In 2019, Colonial Downs racetrack in New Kent County opened up a gambling facility with more than 600 HHR machines. In HHR, you bet on historical horse races without knowing their outcome. The HHR machine itself resembles a slot machine, and they are the closest to casino gaming you can get in Virginia. You can access HHR machines at the Colonial Downs racetrack, and four other off-track locations in Virginia.
Horse Racing
Virginia only has one race track, Colonial Downs, which offers pari-mutuel horse race betting. Offtrack betting is not allowed at the moment. However, with the legalization of sports gambling, Virginia residents can now place horse race bets across the United States. Dog racing is not available in Virginia.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Virginia was the first state to outright legalize daily fantasy sports in the US. This means that operators like Fanduel and DraftKings have a strong foothold in Virginia. Fantasy sports are not seen as online gambling in the Virginia gambling law, so any Virginia resident above the age of 18 can play online daily fantasy sports.It is seen as a game of skill.
Virginia State Lottery
Virginia Lottery was the first online gambling site in the state. You can play instant play games on their site, as well as buy tickets to big cash prize draws like Mega Millions. You have jackpots, Mega Millions, Powerball and other options.
Lottery Profits in Virginia
In 2020, the Virginia Lottery had sales of nearly $2.15 billion in sports betting revenue. 27.7% of the sales or over $595 million went for K-12 public education and 61.3% of the total went back to Virginia bettors and players in the form of prizes. All lottery profits from sports betting industry are used solely for educational purposes.
Sports Bettors Bill of Rights
The state of VA regulations mandates that for the sake of transparency and integrity, your rights include the knowledge of following apart from the right of data privacy and recourse.
- Amount wagered on the bet
- Odds
- Payout sum
- Fraud reporting and legal action
- A prohibition on athletes, coaches, casino employees in unwarranted gambling activity
- Casino contact information
- Clear resources for problem gambling
โญ New Virginia Gambling Sites
Virginia is a new online gambling state but is flexing muscles in terms of sportsbook betting handle revenue. As online gambling spreads in Virginia, more sports betting sites will join the existing ones. Furthermore, with the building of land-based casinos in many VA cities, Virginia gambling laws might change to allow online casino sites in the near future. Golden Nugget Virginia, Penn Sports (Barstool), and Bally’s are the newest online sports betting players in VA.
Virginia Gambling FAQ
- Can you gamble online in Virginia?
-
Online sports betting is legal in Virginia. However, there are no online casinos in Virginia as per law. Whether the state legislatures will change their mind on the subject is not yet clear. For now, you can bet online in VA and play DFS too. Pro Basketball is the most popular sports wager in Virginia in the first six months.
- Is charitable gambling legal in Virginia?
-
Yes, the state of Virginia has more than 350 charitable gambling groups. Charitable gambling groups in the state can't offer online slots, but they can offer things like Texas Hold'Em tournaments.
- Can you play FanDuel in Virginia?
-
You can bet at FanDuel sportsbook and play at their daily fantasy sites. However, casino games through Fanduel Casino are not allowed, as Virginia does not allow online casino sites to operate.
- Is DraftKings legal in Virginia?
-
Yes, for sports betting and DFS. There are no legal online casinos in Virginia, so you can't play at DraftKings casino.
- Can I play real money casino games in Virginia?
-
Real money casino games, including slot machines, table games, video poker, and live dealer games are not yet available in Virginia. However, the state has legalized building of several brick-and-mortar retail casinos in the coming years. Virginia casino gambling internet sites are not yet legal.
- What is the legal gambling age in Virginia?
-
The legal gambling age for regulated gambling in the Commonwealth of Virginia is 21 years. For daily fantasy sports and the states online lottery, the age limit is 18 years old.
- Can I bet on college sports in Virginia?
-
Yes, but like New Jersey online betting, you can't bet on instate college basketball or college football teams.
- Who are the biggest online gambling players in Virginia?
-
From January to June, 2021 the biggest players are FanDuel (49.5% market share), DraftKings (25.4% share), BetMGM (16.4%), and Caesars.