1. Va Online Gambling Websites
2. Va Online Sports Gambling
3. Can You Gamble Online In Virginia

As shocking as it may seem to observers inside and outside Old Dominion, the Commonwealth of Virginia is moving quickly to become a full-service gambling state. Sports betting launched in the state in January 2021, and actual casinos are in the early stages of their construction processes.

1. Sports betting in Virginia will start online, largely through mobile apps. However, it could eventually expand to the brick-and-mortar casinos being planned in several cities and Rosie’s.
2. Gambling has long been prohibited in Virginia, with the exception of lottery, charitable gaming, and wagering on horse races. Virginians currently wager over $1 billion annually on these forms of gaming, generating about $600 million in revenue for various purposes, primarily K–12 education.
3. Online banking options are becoming very popular in the United States. They allow for quick and painless deposits. While some are more frequently used than others, there’s enough variety for players to find a convenient deposit method that suits them at most US gambling sites.

This development became possible after a flurry of legislative activity in March and April 2020. However, as you’ll see, the appetites of both the public and lawmakers were whetted from the success of historical horse racing, which appeared in Virginia in 2019.

As Virginia moves into a different paradigm with gambling, we will be watching. Check back here for information, updates and, in time, bonus offers in the Commonwealth.

Take a look below to see where things stand in Old Dominion and, more importantly, where they are going.

Sweepstakes casinos in Virginia

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. Virginia gambling laws explicitly state that online gambling is illegal, but only those based inside the state. Va gambling laws also do not mention offshore gambling sites as being illegal nor does the federal government. This allows residents to access licensed offshore gambling sites without violating any local or national gambling laws.

Latest Virginia casino updates

Last updated: January 21, 2021

Sports betting is almost underway! With the imminent launch of FanDuel Sportsbook in Virginia, Old Dominion will join the ranks of states with active sportsbooks inside their borders.

Virginia’s launch will also place it in a rarer category of sports betting state. Virginia will join Tennessee as the only online-only sports betting states.

Now, with land-based casinos in the future for Virginia, it won’t retain that status forever. In the meantime, though, Virginians will be able to sign up and play without having to travel anywhere.

FanDuel is unlikely to be the sole option in Virginia for long. By law, Virginia must have at least four sportsbooks launch in the state, so other operators are certain to be close behind.

Potential casinos coming to Virginia

There are plans for as many as five retail casinos to open their doors in Virginia soon. HB4 legalized casino gambling in the state for five cities that have met certain criteria. The criteria for selection are:

• 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.

Clearly, the introduction of a casino venue is meant to spearhead the revitalization of the cities that qualify. The influx of tourism dollars and jobs could help to turn around the lives of citizens who could use a win.

Below is a rundown of where everything stands in each city with regard to its development and partnership plans.

Bristol casino

Bristol’s development team has been working on a plan to open a casino in town since 2018. Out of the cities receiving a casino, Bristol is the farthest along in its preparations.

One of the biggest coups for the Bristol casino team was the securing of Hard Rock International as a strategic partner. The rock-and-roll restaurant and casino brand shook hands with the city, which is located on the border with Tennessee, in late 2019.

At present, the plans call for the redevelopment of the Bristol Mall as the Hard Rock Bristol. Hard Rock is pledging to spend $400 million to build the facility, which will include a casino, sportsbook, hotel, convention center and retail/dining locations.

So far, Hard Rock has not listed an expected date for the new facility to launch. Now that the referendum has passed, casino officials will still have to wait until April 2021 to apply for a casino license. It’s unlikely that any renovations will occur before then.

However, given that other Virginia casinos will likely begin to launch in 2023 and Hard Rock will be anxious to tap into Bristol’s geographic appeal (near so many non-gambling states), a similar timeframe would not be terribly surprising.

Danville casino

Like Bristol, Danville is a border town in Virginia that figures to capitalize on out-of-state traffic. The city, which sits across from North Carolina, would seem to be a perfect place to attract both Virginians and North Carolinians who don’t want to make the drive to the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in western North Carolina.

City planners are obviously shooting for the big time. There’s no other reason for the town’s partnership with Caesars Entertainment, which was finalized in June 2020. Approval from the Virginia Lottery followed soon afterward, and the Danville City Council has also lent its seal of approval to the deal.

The council has also released some early concepts for the property’s design. The current plan calls for a redevelopment of the Dan Mills industrial complex in the Schoolfield neighborhood, which would give Caesars 85 acres to use.

The new facility is expected to house more than 1,000 slot machines, 75 table games, a 16-table poker room, and a sportsbook. It will also be a full-service resort with a performance venue, convention center, restaurants, and retail shops.

With the passage of the vote, the casino could begin applying for an operator license in April 2021. Caesars officials estimate that Caesars Danville would open in 2023 under the current timeframe.

Norfolk casino

Norfolk is an obvious choice for one of the five Virginia casinos. The coastal city is the second-largest in Virginia and is no more than twenty minutes away from the largest (Virginia Beach) and third-largest (Chesapeake) cities in the state.

Norfolk planners are already moving forward with their plans for a casino on the Elizabeth River near Harbor Park. The 13.4-acre site comes as the result of Norfolk’s partnership with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the only federally recognized tribe in Virginia to have a shot at opening a casino.

Even though the tribe is new to casino management, it is not short on ambition. The plan for the Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk calls for the inclusion of roughly 4,000 slot machines and more than 100 table games. Plans even call for a 500-room hotel onsite.

Of course, one of the drivers for such an ambitious plan may be the immediate competition across the Elizabeth River. Norfolk is located minutes away from Portsmouth, another potential casino destination, so planners know they can ill-afford to be overly conservative with their vision. The Pamunkey have pledged to spend $700 million on the construction of the casino.

Like most of Virginia’s casinos, it seems reasonable to assume that this venue will open sometime in 2023.

Portsmouth casino

Portsmouth is, as you may imagine, an aptly named town. It is split by the western branch of the Elizabeth River, is adjacent to the split between the Elizabeth’s southern and eastern branches, and sits across from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

City officials have closed a deal to partner with Rush Street Gaming in order to make the Portsmouth Casino Resort a reality.

Development plans are not as far along as they are in other towns, including Norfolk. So far, the main bit of information we know is the eventual location of the facility — a 50-acre parcel of land at the intersection of Victory and Cavalier Boulevards, near I-264.

The location is telling, however, when you think about Portsmouth’s immediate competition in Norfolk. Positioning itself on a major artery leading to the other casino could capture some traffic that decides it’s not worth an extra few minutes in the car.

Because so few details about the project are available, it is hard to know exactly how things will be different. However, Rush Street Gaming is not a fly-by-night operator and is certain to make the Rivers Portsmouth (or whatever the name ends up being) a fine location.

Because the approval process won’t begin until April 2021 and because Norfolk’s casino seems likely to open in 2023, a similar timeframe for Portsmouth is a pretty good bet.

Richmond casino

Richmond is both the fourth-largest city in Virginia and its capital, so its inclusion as one of the five potential casino locations is not difficult to understand.

However, Richmond is separating itself from the other four towns in terms of its timeline for bringing casino gambling to Virginia. While the other four cities placed the referendum on the 2020 ballot (and got their way), Richmond elected to delay the city’s voter decision until 2021.

In preparation for the new facility, Richmond officials have partnered with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. The tribe has already purchased four pieces of land for the project, which add up to 36 acres of space. Three of the parcels are contiguous, and the fourth is to be used as the base for a to-be-constructed training center.

The delay might seem a bit curious, but it could end up being a savvy move on the part of city leadership. The Pamunkeys are already partnered with the city of Norfolk for its casino, and the experience that the tribe, which is new to gambling, acquires could be invaluable for a smoother process in Richmond.

The tribe is planning to spend $350 million to bring gambling to the city. Along with a 275-room hotel, patrons will also be able to find a spa and a fine dining option.

Naturally, there remain a great deal of regulatory and logistical hurdles to overcome. Our best guess is that you might see the Richmond casino open its doors in 2024.

Is online gambling legal in Virginia?

Yes, but only sports betting. There is no law on the books to permit or regulate online casino gambling in the commonwealth of Virginia.

Although this statement seems to provide a gray area in the law, the reality is that Virginia’s existing statutes have not looked favorably on any type of gambling, online or otherwise. Its law on what constitutes illegal gambling is quite broad. It would only take a zealous law enforcement official’s interpretation to put Virginians who choose to navigate this limbo in a sticky situation.

Do not be fooled by sites that claim to be legal in Virginia. At best, they are playing fast and loose with the truth about the legal situation for online casinos.

However, there is some good news. Virginians are able to play and bet on any number of sweepstakes sites that serve the inhabitants of the commonwealth.

Sweepstakes sites

There are several sweepstakes sites that can mostly replicate the experience of playing in a real online casino. These sites are able to operate legally by conducting business in a specific manner.

Popular sweepstakes sites that will accept players from Virginia include:

Three of these sites — Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global — are owned by the same company. However, all four of them function in the same way.

In order to qualify as a sweepstakes site, operators must abide by specific rules. The most important rule governing sweepstakes giveaways of all kinds is that they must be free to enter. Additionally, they must pay out their advertised prizes.

The sites partially accomplish their compliance with the rules through the use of a dual-currency system. For Chumba, LuckyLand and Global, the two currencies are the play-money Gold Coins and the redeemable Sweeps Coins. Funzpoints uses Funzpoints and Premium Funzpoints, respectively.

It is not, in fact, possible to purchase Sweeps Coins or Premium Funzpoints, so you are receiving the “prize” for free. For these sites to comply with sweepstakes law, it is possible to write to the companies and receive free redeemable currency. Most people don’t want to take the time to do this, though, so they pay for the play currency — which comes with free redeemable currency — for what is, essentially, a convenience fee.

Once you’re set up with some free money, however, there is not much to separate sites like Chumba, LuckyLand and Funzpoints from actual casino sites. There are slot games, table games and other options that you can play exactly the same way you would on an actual casino site.

What gambling is available in Virginia right now?

For many years, finding a way to gamble in Virginia was a bleak proposition. As recently as 2014, gambling locations and opportunities were shutting down, leaving only the state lottery as the option for Virginians who wanted to take a chance.

Thankfully, things are looking up again. The advent of historical horse racing in 2019 has given way to the return of live racing in the commonwealth. Now that sports betting is underway, gambling should become a significant fixture in Virginia.

In addition to sports betting, the following methods of gambling are available in Virginia:

Historical horse racing

The biggest addition to the Virginia gambling landscape in recent years has been historical horse racing. There are thousands of HHR machines located at Virginia’s lone racetrack, Colonial Downs, and four off-track locations in Hampton, New Kent, Richmond and Vinton. All four off-track facilities operate under the Rosie’s Gaming brand.

HHR machines use the results from horse races long past as the source of their material for betting. Players wager on the outcomes without knowing the identity of the races they’re betting.

Then, you have the option of either watching a graphical representation of the actual race or the results of the race translated into a slot machine-type output.

The machines have proven to be wildly successful for Virginia. The Virginia Racing Commission, which oversees the machines, reported handle topping $1.2 billion in 2019, six times higher than any previous year’s performance. HHR accounted for more than $1 billion of that figure.

Live racing

Colonial Downs likely figured that it should strike while the iron was hot. The new wave of patrons coming to the park for HHR meant that the racetrack could attempt to restart live racing, too. So live horse racing and the associated pari-mutuel betting returned to Virginia in 2019 after five years of dormancy.

Colonial Downs expanded its plans in 2020 to 18 races, three more than it conducted in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the track to cancel several of its dates toward the end of the season, including the Virginia Derby. The 2020 season was a difficult time for the racetrack, which had already canceled other dates earlier in the year due to extreme heat and tropical rain.

Nevertheless, live racing has returned in earnest to Virginia. Presumably, the HHR machines will help bring people to the track, and many of them will wander over to watch the present-day races, too.

Online horse betting

Even though live racing is just returning to Virginia, there’s no reason that you cannot place a horse bet through your mobile device or computer. Virginia is one of several states that allows players to use horse betting sites like TVG to wager on horse racing around the country.

Of those three sites, we strongly recommend that you use TVG. TVG is one of the most experienced horse racing sites on the planet, and has every possible option for betting that you could imagine.

TVG is not just a horse betting site, however. It is also a full-service broadcast network dedicated to horse racing. You can get insight and tips around the clock through the knowledgeable commentators who occupy the TVG desks. Though Fox Sports has recently tried to horn in on TVG’s status as the only horse betting network for Americans, TVG remains the premier spot to find information on the ponies in the US.

Daily fantasy sports

Whether daily fantasy sports is truly gambling remains a question in some quarters. Whatever it is, however, Virginians have more freedom than most states to engage in it.

Virginia was the first state in the US to legalize DFS outright. Inhabitants of the commonwealth have been able to do business with operators like DraftKings and FanDuel since 2016.

In a way, the boldness of lawmakers to make DFS a fixture in Virginia may have been a portent of the expansions to come in 2018-20. Once Virginians proved that they could wager without causing massive indebtedness and social disorder, it may have emboldened lawmakers to explore other options.

We’ll never know for sure, but what is certain is that you can play DFS without any hesitation in Virginia.

Lottery

Lastly, Virginia has an active and extensive state lottery. It is possible to play draw games, scratchers and instant win games.

Draw games include both state and interstate opportunities. You can play for smaller jackpots or shoot for bigger drawings like Mega Millions, Powerball and Cash4Life.

The Virginia Lottery has taken a halfway stab at online lottery sales. It is possible to set up an account and purchase a subscription to play a series of draw games online.

However, the utility stops short of self-contained instant win games or scratchers like you can play in other states. It’s not truly an online lottery in Virginia, but it’s close.

History of gambling in Virginia

If you had to describe Virginia’s past forays into gambling with a single word, that word would likely be “timid.” Virginia, like most states in the cultural South (except Mississippi), has an uneasy relationship with games of chance and has only inched its way into the pool one toe at a time.

The first bit of legal gambling to debut in Old Dominion was charitable gambling, which appeared on the scene in 1973. Bingo halls and charity poker became acceptable and quite popular, with annual tax revenues from charitable gambling stretching into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The second form of gambling to find legality in Virginia was a common choice for states that would like to offer mild doses to their populaces. The state lottery debuted in the commonwealth in 1988. Subsequently, it grew into an institution in the state, with 5,000 retail locations and more than half a billion dollars generated in funding for Virginia schools each year.

Horse racing came to Virginia the year after the lottery’s launch. However, despite its status as a $100 million industry, horse tracks have struggled to stay open in the state. Between 2014 and 2019, the only live racing in Virginia came from the modest harness racing at Shenandoah Downs.

However, Virginia lawmakers introduced the practice of historical horse racing to the state in 2018. As a result, Virginians gained the ability to play on slot machine-like devices and wager on the outcomes of random horse races from the past.

The result has been a boon for the Virginia horse racing industry. In its first year of operation, HHR generated more than $1 billion in wagers for authorized locations in the state.

Va Online Gambling Websites

Actually, the legalization of HHR seemed to be part of a larger trend in the Virginia General Assembly in which lawmakers grew decidedly more favorable to legalizing gambling. In 2016, Virginia became the very first state in the country to recognize daily fantasy sports play formally as a legal game for its citizens.

So, although the idea of Virginia becoming a full-fledged gambling location seems a bit odd, the truth of the matter is that it’s part of a consistent shift in attitudes. The launch of online sports betting in the state and the affirmative votes on the casino referendums give a clear picture about where Virginians truly stand on the issue.

The bottom line is that gamblers in Virginia should feel quite optimistic. The days of Virginia dangling its feet in the waters of gambling appear to be ending.

Responsible gambling in Virginia

One of the unfortunate realities of gambling is that a certain percentage of its fans will take things too far. Problem gambling sufferers can quickly find themselves in a downward spiral and lose far too much on an activity that, ideally, is fun.

For that reason, Virginia has resources set aside to help problem gamblers get into recovery. The best resource for Virginians who find themselves in dire straits is to contact the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-532-3500. The call is toll-free, confidential and can connect you with experienced professionals who can give you guidance.

The law that changed the Virginia Lottery’s scope to include sports betting also mandated the establishment of the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, which will be administered by the Virginia Department of Health and Human Services. According to the law, the fund exists “to provide counseling to compulsive gamblers, implement problem gambling treatment and prevention programs, and provide grants to organizations that assist problem gamblers.”

In truth, responsible gambling resources are going to have to beef up as more gambling options become active in the state. The state lottery does maintain a self-exclusion list, but it will need to be more prominent and comprehensive when online sportsbooks launch, and then again when casino properties open their doors.

Problem gambling’s telltale sign is when you want to stop gambling, but you cannot do so. If you are suffering from this symptom, do not wait another moment to act. Each day you suffer from problem gambling is a day lost, along with whatever vital funds you threw away.

Don’t wait another second. Get help.

Where To Place Bets In Virginia

Virginia legalized online sports betting just last year. Whereas some states take their time before launching, Virginia was not one of them. Quick to market, online sportsbook apps launched in Virginia at the end of January 2021. The first sportsbooks to launch in Virginia include:

Virginia Casinos expects more sportsbooks to launch in the coming days and months. The goal for both sportsbook companies and Virginia bettors was to launch apps in time for Super Bowl betting. Looks like they’ve been successful.

Virginia Online Sports Betting Bonus Offers

Licensed in Virginia

Pros

• $2,021 Risk-Free Bet
• Best online app for live betting
• Great odds boosts & promos

Sportsbook Rating Great
William Hill Virginia Review

Licensed in Virginia

Pros

• $1,000 Risk-Free Bet
• Best online sportsbook App
• Great odds boosts

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
FanDuel Virginia Review

Va Online Sports Gambling

Licensed in Virginia

Pros

• $600 Risk Free Bet
• Backed by the MGM Brand
• Strong odds versus competitors

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
BetMGM Virginia Review

Licensed in Virginia

Pros

• $250 Deposit Match Bonus
• Only 1x Playthrough
• Extensive market depth

Sportsbook Rating Good
BetRivers Virginia Review

Licensed in Virginia

Pros

• $1,000 Deposit Bonus
• Top online sportsbook App
• Available in the most states

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
DraftKings Virginia Review

When Did Virginia Launch Online Sports Betting?

Virginia is the latest of many states to hop on the sports betting bandwagon. The state legalized sports betting on July 1, 2020, after a series of amendments to the bills that would eventually make sports betting legal. The first online sports betting site announced its launch on January 21, 2021, with several others launching over the following weeks.

On September 15, 2020, the Virginia Lottery set its final regulations. One month later, the licensing process opened. All applicants were subject to a 90-day review period. In short, this meant that Virginia online sports betting would launch in January before the Super Bowlaccording to Kevin Hall the Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery. The Virginia Lottery was good on its word.

VirginiaCasinos.com estimates that Virginia sports betting will produce $412 million in handle for the state with $61.8 million in annual tax revenue. In the first 11 days, Virginia did $58.9 million in sports betting handle.

Old Dominion is slightly unique among sports betting markets. The state’s legislation allows for online-only sportsbooks (much like Tennessee) alongside those tethered to a land-based casino. But the added factor that makes Virginia unique is an amendment requested by Governor Ralph Northam. The amendment, which made it into the final legislation, allows for NASCAR tracks to apply for sports betting licenses.

Can You Gamble Online In Virginia

All-in-all, Virginia, is gearing up to become a competitive sports betting landscape.

Major Players In Virginia

With no land-based casinos (yet) and online-friendly legislation, Virginia is expected to be a heavy hitter in the sports betting industry. Big operators are sure to flock to the state to offer online sports betting. FanDuel launched its app on January 21, 2021. Other brands were hot on their heels to launch in Virginia.

William Hill Virginia

Visit: William Hill

William Hill Virginia partnered with Caesars Entertainment to bring its online app to Virginia. Caesars also has a license to build a land-based casino in Virginia. But, Virginia bettors have access to William Hill now.

William Hill has a rich history in the gambling industry, and its years of experience will bring a powerful sports betting operator to the state alongside other top-tier providers. They app offers a robuts market of both domestic and international sports. William Hill InPlay is easy to access on the sportsbook, offering a wide variety of live, in-game betting options.

New bettors can claim up to $2,021 in risk free bets now at William Hill Virginia.

FanDuel Virginia

Visit: FanDuel Virginia

FanDuel is often one of the first apps to launch in a state. It’s no surprise that they were the first to launch in Virginia, almost simultaneously with their launch in Michigan. FanDuel is most known for its reputation in the Daily Fantasy Sports market but is gaining ground in legal online sports betting by operating in almost a dozen states.

New FanDuel users in Virginia can claim a $1,000 risk-free bet bonus on sign up. It’s a great way to get started with sports betting without risking too much upfront.

BetMGM Virginia

Visit: BetMGM Virginia

BetMGM is backed by one of the most successful brands in gaming, MGM. Its launch in Virginia brings a top-notch sports betting brand to the Commonwealth. Virginia bettors can access BetMGM Virginia on web browser as well as an iOS or Android app.

The MGM brand has done well in markets where they have a land-based casino as well, but they’ve also launched in states without a local presence. Even without a retail casino in Virginia, BetMGM is committed to the region. They operate the MGM National Harbor, which is in Maryland at the DC border and close to Virginia bettors.

BetMGM also recently announced a partnership with the Washington Nationals, which will also lead to a BetMGM branded sportsbook located at Nationals Park.

New BetMGM users in Virginia can claim a risk-free first bet up to $600 on sign up.

DraftKings Virginia

Visit: DraftKings Virginia

A DraftKings Virginia launch was about the closest to a sure thing you could get. The operator already has a Daily Fantasy Sports presence in Virginia, and it was one of the first to launch sports betting in the state. Besides, it seems where FanDuel goes so does DraftKings.

DraftKings’ quest for leadership in each market is fueled by early launches wherever possible, and Virginia will be no different. DraftKings is offering new players in the state a deposit match bonus of 20% up to $1,000.

BetRivers Virginia

Visit: BetRivers Virginia

BetRivers has seen success in a number of states near Virginia, namely Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We expect BetRivers to continue its success in Virginia now that it is live in Virginia.

One of the reasons why BetRivers is so successful with bettors in new markets, like Illinois and Michigan, is because of its strong bonus offer. BetRivers offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250 with only a 1x playthrough requirement. Even if the dollar amount is lower than competitors such as DraftKings, the playthrough requirement is entirely attainable, even for new sports bettors.

Rush Street Gaming, the parent company of Rush Street Interactive and the BetRivers brand, was approved as the casino partner for Virginia’s new Portsmouth casino. With that casino greenlit, the BetRivers brand will have a strong foothold in Virginia, making it a top contender to lead the sports betting market and the casino gaming market in the state.

Virginia’s Legal Gambling History

Most of Virginia’s major gambling-related legislative developments have happened in the very recent past. Even in the grand scheme of things, Virginia’s legal lottery and horse race betting options are fairly new.

In 1987, Virginia legalized the lottery, with all profits going to education initiatives. One year later, the Lottery sold its first tickets. In 1989, the state created the Virginia Racing Commission to manage pari-mutuel wagers on races held out of state, mainly because there were no tracks in Virginia.

That changed in 1997 with the opening of Colonial Downs. It’s still the only race track in Virginia.

Fast forward to 2018. The Supreme Court declared PASPA unconstitutional, putting sports betting legislation in the hands of individual states. Virginia took notice and started to welcome new forms of gambling. LEgislation to authorize sports betting passed in July 2020. But the state wasn’t content to just add sports betting into the mix. Five Virginia communities voted in a referendum to allow for the construction of five casinos, one in each of the following towns:

• Bristol
• Danville
• Norfolk
• Portsmouth
• Richmond

These will mark the very first casinos in Virginia’s history, perhaps signaling a new era of gambling for the state.

Virginia Gambling Timeline

• March 2021 – WynnBet Virginia was approved by the Virginia Lottery and will launch in mid-march.
• January 2021 – Draftkings Virginia launched on January 24, 2021 while BetRivers, BetMGM and William Hill launched on the 27th.
• January 21, 2021: FanDuel Virginia becomes the first sportsbook app to announce its launch in Virginia
• November 2020: Voters approve casinos in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond via referendum
  
• October 2020: Licensing application process for sports betting operators begins
  
• September 2020: Virginia Lottery finalizes regulatory framework for mobile sports betting
  
• July 2020: Sports betting legalized in Virginia
  
• 2018: SCOTUS declares PASPA unconstitutional, leaving sports betting legislation in the hands of individual states
  
• 1997: Colonial Downs, Virginia’s first race track, opens in New Kent
  
• 1989: Virginia creates the Virginia Racing Commission to regulate pari-mutuel betting
  
• 1988: The Virginia Lottery sells its first tickets
• 1987: Virginia legalizes lottery
  

Virginia Gambling FAQs

Virginia News

Yes. But there’s one catch–Virginia doesn’t have any casinos yet. Voters in five Virginia communities recently approved casinos in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond. This vote occurred in November 2020, so it coils still be at least a few years before Virginia casinos actually open.

Yes. The Virginia Lottery began accepting license applications on October 15, 2020. The first app launched on January 21, 2021, when FanDuel Virginia hit the ground running. Several other apps launched in the days that followed and more will be live soon.

Currently, Virginia’s minimum gambling age is 18. However, this is because the state only offers pari-mutuel wagering, bingo, Daily Fantasy Sports, and lottery games.

Sports betting and casino gaming will have a minimum age requirement of 21. Anyone 21 or above will be able to play at Virginia’s casinos or on the state’s sports betting sites.

Yes, but not every form of online gambling is available yet. Virginia legalized sports betting in July, and the Virginia lottery finalized regulations in September. The first sports betting app launched on January 21, 2021.

Sports betting, horse race betting, and online lottery are the other internet gaming options for Virginians. Online casino gaming is not legal in the state.

Yes. The Virginia Lottery was created in 1987 and sold its first ticket in 1988. The Virginia Lottery benefits the state’s education programs.

The Virginia lottery is also the governing body for sports betting. The organization creates rules and regulations that govern sportsbooks in the state.

Yes. You can purchase tickets and play lottery games online in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery has a helpful FAQ page that provides more detail on this option.

Yes. One of the best reasons to bet at legal online sports betting sites is that they are completely safe, unlike off-shore or illegal sportsbooks. Now that sports betting is fully legal in Virginia and online sportsbooks are available, there is no reason to go offshore. The Virginia Lottery and the government of Virginia do everything in their power to ensure online betting is safe for Virginia bettors.

Yes. All gambling winnings are taxed by the IRS. The federal tax rate on gambling winnings is 25%.

In many cases, a casino or sportsbook will provide you with tax paperwork if your winnings exceed a certain threshold. If you win below the threshold, you still need to pay taxes on those winnings, but the paperwork is your responsibility.

Yes, especially if you play frequently. Rewards programs offer a lot of great incentives for casino players. Free meals, room discounts, free play on slots, special concert/event pre-sales…the list could go on. Frequent players can gain a lot from a casino loyalty program, so it’s worth signing up even if you expect to visit once every few months. Points add up over time!

Virginia has identified preferred casino partners for all five cities that authorized casinos to be built. Here are the identified preferred partners:

• Bristol: Hard Rock International
• Danville: Caesars Entertainment
• Portsmouth: Rush Street Gaming (Rivers)
• Richmond: Pamunkey Indian Tribe
• Norfolk: Pamunkey Indian Tribe