Virginia was pretty late to the party when it came to legalizing sports betting, but better late than never.
‘Old Dominion’, which has an estimated population of 8.6million (2020 data), opened up for business in January 2021.
There are no professional major league franchises actually playing home games in the state of Virginia. But the NFL’s Washington Football Team and the NHL’s Washington Capitals both have practice facilities in Virgina.
Indeed FanDuel was able to steal a march by launching swiftly upon legalization, courtesy of its partnership with the Washington Football Team.
It is still early days to gauge the impact of sports betting on Virginia revenues, but given the population size, the ability to bet remotely and its location, hopes are high.
Is sports betting legal in Virginia?
Yes, sports betting became legal in 2020 and went live in January 2021.
For now there are no land-based sites – everything is either online or via mobile app on your smartphone.
There are a small number of sportsbooks operating legally in the state right now, but this is expected to grow significantly over time. The law passed in April 2020 allowed for a maxim of 12.
Physical sportsbooks inside casinos are expected to become reality in the future, as well as at Virginia auto racing tracks (WynnBET has already agreed a partnership with NASCAR for both Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway).
Sports betting locally in VA is currently run by the Virginia State Lottery.
Where can I bet in Virginia?
As stated, there are a relatively small number of sportsbooks already live:
DraftKings: A sports betting behemoth born out of daily fantasy. A massive player in the sports betting Gold Rush. Great rep, good product and normally very good bonus offers.
FanDuel: Another massive player in the United states which originated from daily fantasy. Partners with the Washington Football Team and has excellent offers for new players in Virginia.
BetRivers: The child of the union between Rush Street Interactive and Rivers Casino in Portsmouth. Doesn’t have the brand credibility of the huge players, but a nice local option.
BetMGM: Set to be a major player, with a huge brand behind it. Launched in Virginia in January 2021 and again one to look at given its credibility and bonus offers.
William Hill: Originally a major player in the UK and now making waves in the United States. Subject of a recent $2.9billion acquisition by Caesars. Trusted and credible.
NB: Check out our sign-up offers page to see what promotional bonuses are available before deciding which sportsbooks to sign up with.
Do you need to be resident in Virginia to bet there?
You do not need to be a resident of Virginia to bet there. But you must be physically in the state to register for an account and place a bet.
What is the legal sports betting age in Virginia?
You must be at least 21 years of age to bet on sports legally in the state of Virginia.
How do I place a sports bet online in Virginia?
The process is pretty simple:
- Be physically in the state of Virginia
- Choose which sportsbook/s you want to bet with
- Visit their website or download their app to your smartphone
- Register for an account
- Deposit funds in your account
- Choose which sport and event you want to bet on
- Make your selection and decide how much you want to bet
- Once you’ve inputted your selection and stake, place your bet
And remember, you are not limited to any one sportsbook. You can sign up with multiple operators. This gives you the ability to get the best available odds, and make use of all those terrific sign-up bonuses.
What type of sports bets can I place in Virginia?
Moneyline: Yes
Point Spread: Yes
Parlay: Yes
Teasers: Yes
Futures: Yes
Over/Under: Yes
Round Robin: Yes
What sports can I bet on in Virginia?
You can bet on all major sports in Virginia, including:
There are some notable exceptions to what you can bet on:
- You cannot bet on youth sports or college matchups involving Virginia schools.
- There are no prop bets allowed on college sports.
- Betting on the Olympic games is not allowed.
- Prop bets on injuries or officiating calls are not allowed.
- Betting on subjective awards such as MLB’s Cy Young or college football’s Heisman Trophy is not allowed.
Legal sports betting near Virginia
Now of course you have legal sports betting right on your doorstep. But some people still love the experience of in-betting at a casino sportsbook. Others travel regularly so need options when out of state.
As state betting laws are all about location when you place the bet, here are your best options:
Tennessee: Like Virginia, Tennessee went live with online and mobile only. No in-person betting. You need to be aged 21 or older to place a bet legally in TN.
West Virginia: Has both online/mobile and land-based options. Once again you need to be aged 21 or older to bet legally.
NB: Sports betting has been approved in both Maryland and North Carolina, but has yet to be rolled out in either state.
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Virginia?
Offshore sportsbooks spend time and money advertising their services to United States citizens. But the truth is they are not legal in any states in the union.
These sportsbooks do not have a license to offer sports betting in the U.S. and therefore you have no consumer protection if you sign up and deposit your dollars with them.
We strongly advise you to stick to legal sports betting in ‘open’ states in the U.S. – starting with Virginia of course.