Virginia sports betting – At a glance
- Online and retail sports betting are legal
- There are 16 live online sportsbooks and one retail betting unit
- The legal age limit is 21 for all forms of betting
- Find the best VA sports betting welcome offers here
History and updates of sports betting in Virginia
Sports wagering in Virginia was officially legalized in April 2020, when amendments to two bills – SB 384 and HB 896 – were approved by lawmakers. The first online sportsbooks went live in January 2021, with the first retail sportsbook opening over 18 months later, in July 2022.
Below, I have provided you with a complete and up-to-date timeline detailing the Virginia sports betting story so far:
- 26 January 2024
– Bet365 launches its free-to-play fantasy sports contests in VA and a handful of other US states.
- 10 January 2024
– Senate Bill 124 is introduced, which proposes to legalize college sports wagering in VA, save for props bets and in-state collegiate teams.
- 18 December 2023
– Daily fantasy sports are determined as gambling by the Attorney General.
- 29 March 2023
– DraftKings launches the first-ever horse racing betting app in Virginia.
- 08 July 2022
– Hard Rock opens the first retail sportsbook in Virginia inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol.
- 15 February 2022
– The Senate passes SB 576 which would permit betting on in-state collegiate teams (it still hasn’t reached the House).
- 13 January 2022
– HB 1127 is introduced to legalize all college sports betting but it is voided less than a month later.
- 11 January 2023
– HJR 63 and SJR 24 bills are introduced with the aim of creating a new gaming commission to take over sports betting regulation and licensing from the Virginia Lottery.
- 02 November 2021
– Richmond residents vote against proposed plans for the ONE Casino + Resort.
- 21 January 2021
– Virginia online sports betting goes live with FanDuel becoming the first mobile sportsbook to accept wagers.
- November 2020
– Voter referendums in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth are passed, allowing plans for four land-based VA casinos and sportsbooks to go ahead.
- April 2020
– The amended SB 384 and HB 896 are passed into law, legalizing sports wagering in Old Dominion officially.
Is sports betting legal in Virginia?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Virginia, as changes to the SB 384 and HB 896 bills were approved in April 2020 by lawmakers. The first Virginia Lottery-licensed sportsbook, FanDuel, went live in January 2021.
Currently, there are 16 online sportsbooks in VA, with just one brick-and-mortar site, which opened in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol during July 2022.
Online sports betting Virginia – The best offers and bonuses
We all love a good bonus, don’t we?
All Virginia sportsbooks offer you a welcome offer when you first sign up. However, in my experience, not all of them live up to their billing by the time you read the T&Cs.
To help you out, I have tested all 16
Virginia sportsbook promos
and here I’ve highlighted my top five picks for you:
- BetMGM: Bet $5 Get $158
– When you register at BetMGM Sportsbook in VA, deposit at least $10 and then place a first bet of $5, you will get $158 in bonus bet credits, broken down as follows; 2 x $50 bonus bets & 1 x $58 bonus bet.
- DraftKings: Bet $5 Get $200
– At DK Sportsbooks VA, you just need to deposit and wager $5 to get 8 x $25 bonus bets ($200 in total).
- FanDuel: Bet $5 Get $200
– In the same vein as DraftKings, its nearest competitor, FanDuel is currently offering you $200 in bonus bets if you deposit and make a qualifying single-stake wager of $5 or greater.
- Bet365: Choice of Two Welcome Offers:
– As a new customer at this sportsbook, you have a choice; either bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets, or get your stake back as a bonus bet (up to $2,000) if your first wager loses.
- Caesars: First Bet Back up to $1,000:
If your first wager at Caesars Sportsbook VA loses, you will get your stake back as a single bonus bet up to a $1,000 maximum.
Top five Virginia betting sites online
I’ve covered the bonuses, but what you want to hear about are the betting sites themselves, right?
Here you can check out the top five Virginia sportsbooks for 2024:
BetMGM Sportsbook Virginia
- Top welcome promotion
- Best overall branding
- User-friendly app and web interface
- Excellent market selection of US pro sports
- Android app not as good as iOS
While they are not everything, I firmly believe that first impressions are important, and BetMGM passes the initial eye test faster than most. With its matt black background and subtle gold branding, the BetMGM sportsbook looks super cool and classy.
However, you’ll find that this style is backed up by plenty of substance. The betting app and website are extremely user-friendly, the selection of markets is excellent, particularly for the NBA and NFL, and the odds are always competitive if not the best.
App Store Rating (iOS):
4.8 ⭐
Google Play Rating (Android):
4.1⭐
Welcome Bonus:
Bet $5 Get $158
Payout time:
1 – 7 business days
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
DraftKings Sportsbook VA
- 8 x $25 welcome bonus bets
- Bespoke and personalized interface
- Trusted US DFS and betting brand
- Good for live-streaming
- Could be more banking options for VA customers
Want to find the betting markets that matter to you as quickly as possible? The DraftKings Sportsbook is probably the best app for you. The betting carousel feature brings up events and bet types based on your wagering history.
On top of that, this trusted brand has an excellent website and app that are both ideal for experienced players and newbies alike. Additionally, being as high profile as it is, DK has excellent streaming rights for live action so you can follow and bet in real time.
App Store Rating (iOS): 4.7 ⭐
Google Play Rating (Android): 4.6⭐
Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 Get $200
Payout time: 3 – 5 business days
Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets and 1 month of NFL+ Premium on us!
FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia
- Generous signup bonus
- Official NBA betting partner in VA
- Beginner-friendly app
- Good promos for existing customers
- VIP program doesn’t extend to the sportsbook
This is the ideal sportsbook for all of us basketball fans, as it is the official betting partner of the NBA in Virginia. This means that, on top of the $200 bonus bets welcome offer, you will find odds boosts and promotions throughout the NBA regular season and playoffs.
Of course, this partnership also means that you can livestream any NBA games that you have an active wager on. New to sports betting? Don’t worry, the mobile app interface has seamless navigation and walks you through each step when you use it for the first time.
App Store Rating (iOS): 4.8 ⭐
Google Play Rating (Android): 4.7⭐
Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 Get $200
Payout time: 2 – 7 business days
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
Bet365 Sportsbook Virginia
- Two welcome offers to choose from
- Free-to-enter DFS contest
- Good for niche and foreign sports leagues
- Internationally renowned betting brand
- Old-school design and branding
If you fancy betting on the NBA, NHL, NFL, or MLB, Bet365 has an excellent selection of odds and some unique markets. Additionally, as a non-US brand, I found that it is probably the best Virginia sports betting site for overseas leagues and niche sports, such as EPL soccer and Aussie rules.
In Virginia, we’re lucky enough to be one of just five states with access to the Bet365 Daily Lineups. These are free-to-enter DFS contests with real money prizes, salary caps, and everything else you would expect in a fantasy sports game.
App Store Rating (iOS): 4.8 ⭐
Google Play Rating (Android): 4.6⭐
Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 Get $150 or First bet back up to $2,000
Payout time: 0 – 5 business days
Bet $5 Get $200 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you’ll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars Sportsbook Virginia
- No-sweat welcome offer
- Great 24/7 customer service live chat
- Great rewards program
- Competitive odds
- Web platform is a downgrade from the app
You might be surprised to hear that Caesars is one of the few Virginia sportsbooks with 24/7 customer service. Not only that, but the level of care that you will receive is far better than I have experienced elsewhere.
As well as going the extra mile on the customer service front, Caesars Sportsbook has great odds and quick updates when it comes to live betting. Additionally, the online sports betting reward program is interlinked with the Caesars land-based casino resorts throughout the US.
App Store Rating (iOS): 4.6 ⭐
Google Play Rating (Android): 4.2⭐
Welcome Bonus: First Bet Back up to $1,000
Payout time: Up to 3 business days
Bet $5 Get $200 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you’ll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
What Virginia sportsbooks are legal?
As I told you earlier, there are 16
legal sports betting sites
in Virginia as of October 2024. Here is a list of them all, together with my take on their best attributes:
- BetMGM
– Best overall VA sportsbook app
- DraftKings
– Personalized interface
- FanDuel
– Official NBA betting partner in Virginia
- Bet365
– Best for international and niche sports
- Caesars Sportsbook
– Excellent customer service
- BetRivers Sportsbook
– The most beginner-friendly platform
- Betway
– High levels of security
- Unibet
– Competitive odds consistently
- Betfred
– A flavor of UK-style betting in the US
- ESPN Bet
– Deposit match welcome offer
- Bally Bet
– A classic sportsbook recently revamped
- SI Sportsbook
– Best for odds boosts
- Hard Rock
– Unrivalled live betting
- Betr
– The only micro betting platform in VA
- SuperBook
– Good betting lines
- Fanatics Sportsbook
– 5% FanCash back with every bet
Legal Virginia sportsbooks
In Old Dominion, you can legally place online and in-person sports wagers from the age of 21. While there are 16 live online platforms, there is currently only one retail sportsbook.
However, there are at least four more retail casinos and sportsbooks in the works, and I’ll be the first to tell you when they open. That’s why I always recommend that you bookmark my
betting guide
articles and revisit them for regular updates.
Sites for online betting in Virginia
| Online sportsbook | Mobile app | Odds provider |
| Bally Bet | ✅ | Kambi |
| Bet365 | ✅ | Bet365 |
| Betfred | ✅ | OpenBet |
| BetMGM | ✅ | BetMGM |
| BetRivers | ✅ | Kambi |
| Betr | ✅ | Chameleon |
| Betway | ✅ | Betway |
| Caesars | ✅ | Caesars |
| DraftKings | ✅ | SBTech |
| ESPN Bet | ✅ | PENN |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | ✅ | Amelco |
| FanDuel | ✅ | Flutter |
| Hard Rock Bet | ✅ | GiG |
| SI Sportsbook | ✅ | Kambi |
| SuperBook | ✅ | IGT |
| Unibet | ✅ | Kambi |
Retail Virginia sportsbooks
The only place that you can place an in-person bet in the Old Dominion right now is at the Hard Rock Sportsbook inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol, VA.
Heres our top Sportsbooks for Virginia in 2024
top5-provider section=sport market=en_us_va]
Who is Virginia sports betting legal for?
Are you over 21 and physically located inside VA state borders? If so, Virginia sports betting is legal for you. But before you get started, here are a few things you should know:
- Legal age
– You must be 21+ to bet on sports online or offline in VA.
- Mobile betting
– Online wagering is legally available on the 16 mobile sportsbooks that have been licnsed by Virginia Lottery.
- Remote registration
– You can sign up to your online sportsbook of choice remotely using your cell phone, tablet, or laptop/desktop.
- Within state borders
– You don’t have to be a VA resident to bet online, but you must be physically located within Old Dominion borders.
- Retail sportsbooks
– there is only one retail sportsbook in Virginia, but there are more planning to open in the next few years.
- Taxable winnings
– Depending on how much you win over the year, the VA state tax is 2% – 5.75%, but gambling losses are deductible to give you a net figure. Additionally, your betting winnings are subject to a 24% federal tax.
The pros and cons of Virginia sports betting
To summarize everything that we’ve covered together so far, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of sports betting in VA:
- Legal online and retail wagering
- 16 live sportsbooks online
- Plans for more retail betting units
- Great choice of welcome offers
- More restrictions than other states
How to start betting in Virginia?
Are you done with the talk? Good – because it’s time for action. If you want to register at a sportsbook and start betting in Virginia online right now, just follow my step-by-step guide below:
First and foremost, select one of the top five Virginia sportsbooks that I’ve recommended to you in this article.
After you have chosen a sportsbook, download the app or load the website and sign up with your SSN and other personal details.
When it comes to funding your account, most Virginia sportsbooks offer a diverse selection of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and more.
You can now choose a betting market at preferable odds and officially place your first wager.
Withdraw your winnings”] If and when one of your bets wins, you can withdraw your funds. Usually, it’s best to use the same payment method that you used for your last deposit. [/toggle-item]
What can you not bet on in Virginia?
While most forms of sports betting are fair game in the Old Dominion, there are a few more exceptions than you will find in other US legal gaming states.
Here’s a quick rundown for you:
- Politics
– Like all other US states with legal gambling, Virginia has prohibited betting on political events and elections.
- In-state college teams
– While collegiate betting is legal (besides props) you cannot bet on games involving VA-based college teams.
- NFL Draft
– Unfortunately, Virginia is one of very few US legal sports betting states that doesn’t permit NFL Draft wagers.
- Award ceremonies
– You cannot bet on the Oscars and other such award ceremonies in VA.
What about esports betting?
Given the list of restrictions that I outlined above, you might be surprised to hear that esports betting is legal in Virginia. The bill that was passed to legalize sports betting in 2020 contains clear and succinct rules and regulations for betting on pro gaming esports events.
Virginia sports betting handle
In 2021, Virginia became the fastest state to reach the $1 billion sports betting handle mark. However, this record has been broken by multiple states with larger populations since then.
Are you curious about the financial facts and figures? I’ve collected the necessary year-on-year data which you can find here:
| Year | Sports Betting Handle | Total Revenue | Hold Percentage | Taxes |
| 2023 | $5,537,427,323 | $471,785,318 | 8.52% | $71,824,186 |
| 2022 | $4,914,954,449 | $348,313,222 | 7.09% | $51,765,685 |
| 2021 | $3,221,790,714 | $130,867,158 | 4.06% | $20,340,022 |
| Total: | $13,674,172,486 | $950,965,698 | 6.95% | $143,929,894 |
Home team advantage in Virginia
Although there are no professional sports teams in the Old Dominion, there are plenty in neighboring states. For us basketball fans, the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets are right on our doorstep. Meanwhile, NFL Fans have the Washington Capitals and the Baltimore Ravens.
But regardless of which teams you support, you need to forget this when it comes to Virginia sports betting. Being a fan is all about passion, while wagering should be pragmatic and logical.
VA collegiate teams
There may not be any pro sports franchises in Virginia, but one thing that the state isn’t short of is college sports teams. However, as I told you earlier, in-state collegiate sports betting isn’t permitted currently in VA.
There are some bills in the works proposing to change this, but for now, you’ll have to stick to betting on out-of-state college teams.
Other types of gambling in VA
So you now know everything about what Virginia sportsbooks can and can’t offer you when it comes to sports wagering. But what about other forms of gambling?
The Old Dominion has traditionally been a conservative state, but its views and approach to gambling are starting to change. Below I have explained the current status of all other gambling niches for you:
- Casino
– The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol became the first land-based casino to open its doors in Virginia in June 2022. There are currently approved plans for four more retail casino resorts, but online casinos remain prohibited with no projections for legalization.
- Poker
– Curiously, poker isn’t mentioned explicitly in any of Virginia’s gambling laws, so I advise that you avoid it for now. While online poker is likely to remain illegal, the rules for in-person poker will hopefully become clearer when more land-based retail casinos open their doors in VA.
- Horse racing betting
– In-person pari-mutuel betting is available at Virginia’s only race track, Colonial Downs. Online, you can legally place horse racing bets at TVG, TwinSpires, and a couple of other dedicated horse racing betting sites.
- Daily Fantasy Sports
– DFS and other fantasy sports contests have been legal in VA since 2016. Currently, FanDuel and DraftKings are the two main online operators that I recommend.
Quick facts about the Virginia betting industry
I think it’s fair to say that we’ve covered a lot of ground today, haven’t we? To condense things, here is a short summary of the main facts:
| Launch date (Online): | 21 January 2021 |
| Launch date (Retail): | 08 July 2022 |
| Online sports betting: | ✅ |
| Max number of licenses: | 19 |
| Current live sportsbooks: | 16 |
| Remote registration: | ✅ |
| Retail sports betting: | ✅ |
| College sports betting: | ✅* |
| Esports betting: | ✅ |
| NFL Draft betting: | ❌ |
| Retail casinos: | ✅ |
| Online casinos | ❌ |
| Population: | 8.63 million |
| Handle (2023): | $5.5 billion |
| Tax: | 15% |
| Regulator: | Virginia Lottery |
*You cannot bet on games involving Virginia-based collegiate teams or place player/game prop bets on college sports.
Responsible Gaming in Virginia
Like all US states with legal sports betting, Virginia takes gambling addiction and other betting-related problems very seriously. Through Virginia Lottery, I have found many initiatives and programs that can help you or your loved ones with gambling addiction:
- Voluntary Exclusion Program
– You can choose to ban yourself from all online and offline gambling activities for 2 – 5 years or give yourself a lifetime ban.
- Toll-free helpline
– This is a number that you can call if you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
- Support groups
– There are support groups that you can join if you have a gambling addiction or are a loved one affected by a gambling problem.
- Set your own limits
– On all Virginia sportsbooks, you can set your own deposit, wagering, win, and loss limits to help manage your sports betting spend.
Virginia sportsbooks to avoid
One thing that you should avoid doing in VA is betting with offshore sportsbooks. Not only are they illegal, but you are also at risk of having your funds and/or data hacked and stolen. Additionally, you cannot access online sportsbooks that are not licensed by the Virginia Lottery.
If you try to go on such sites, you will find that your access is blocked, even if you have a VPN switched on. With 16 Virginia sports betting sites to choose from, you aren’t short of options – so there’s no excuse for not using a safe and legal site.
Online Betting Virginia – Conclusion
In summary, you can legally bet online in Virginia if you are aged 21+ and are physically located in the state. Although in-person betting is only offered at one retail location right now, at least four more are on the way.
Regardless, my recommendation is to register remotely with an online Virginia sportsbook. When doing so, don’t forget to claim your welcome offer and get between $150 – $2,000 in bonus bets, depending on which site and offer you select.
Virginia sports betting FAQ
⚖ Is sports betting legal in Virginia?
Yes, sports betting is legal in the Old Dominion for residents and non-residents aged 21 or older. Additionally, in-person sports wager is available at the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol, with four more brick-and-mortar casino resorts in the pipeline.
🖥 Where can I bet online in Virginia?
There are currently 16 legal online sports betting apps and websites where you can legally place mobile wagers. Some of my favorites are betMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365 and Caesars Sportsbook.
⚽ Can you use Bet365 in Virginia?
Yes, Bet365 is legally available online in Virginia. As well as the sportsbook, you can also play the free-to-enter DFS contests, the “Daily Lineups”. Discover more here at Dunkorthree.com.
