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Virginia sports betting is legal for online, mobile and retail locations. There are currently 15 legal Virginia sportsbooks as of December 2023.
We ranked the top sports betting operators based on their Virginia sportsbook promos, app features and more.
Why should you trust these VA sports betting operators? Because we have personally vetted every legal online Virginia sportsbook by verifying each promotion available, signing up through their user-friendly interface, funding our account, and using their fast withdrawal processes. Additionally, these top-ranked brands provide bettors best-in-class Virginia sports betting apps.
✅ Is Sports Betting Legal in VA? | Yes, Virginia Sports Betting is Legal |
⭐️ How Many Virginia Sportsbooks Are There? | 15 Legal Sportsbooks |
📆 Latest News December 2023 | Fanatics Sportsbook Launches in VA |
🔞 Legal VA Gambling Age | 21+ Years Old |
🏛️ Virginia Gambling Regulator | Virginia Lottery |
✏️ Last Verified by Expert | December 4, 2023 |
The latest news on Virginia sports betting? Don't worry. We've got you covered with everything you need to know in our regularly updated list of headlines below.
Of the 15 total sportsbooks in Virginia, here's what we voted as the best:
We performed extensive research on each online sports betting brand and decided on this exclusive group because they offer a safe and fair betting experience and have already been approved by the Virginia Lottery Board.
Due to the volume of competition, these sports betting sites constantly evolve. We made it easy for you to see which of the best online sportsbooks fit your needs. Look for licensed and regulated operators that offer a user-friendly interface, competitive odds, a wide range of sporting events, secure payment options, and efficient customer support services.
ESPN BET Virginia is here and they’ve brought one of the top mobile apps and promotions that you’ll find in the Virginia sports betting market. Top it off with what’s a generous rewards program, make sure to check out our full expert review on the all-new ESPN BET.
Caesars Sportsbook Virginia features a spectacular rewards program with great perks at its many casino resort hotels and affiliated properties.
Caesars Sportsbook VA is the sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Washington Capitals.
Looking for a Virginia sportsbook that offers betting markets for every US sport and international sports as well? Betway Virginia is the sportsbook for you offering daily odds and parlay boosts.
There are aplenty of reasons to love technology in today's age but few can bring you live streaming options straight from an app quite like bet365 Virginia sportsbook. If live betting is more up your alley, you need to check out bet365 today.
The BetMGM Sportsbook in Virginia offers bettors thousands of events to bet on live, worldwide.
Regardless of the sport, there are an endless offering of in-game betting odds catering on your betting needs. From kickoff, to who will score next, BetMGM Virginia sportsbook has every live betting market you are looking for.
With Flex Parlays at Hard Rock Bet Virginia, it's worth giving one of the newer operators on the Virginia sports betting market a chance.
The second online sportsbook to open after Virginia legalized sports betting, DraftKings Sportsbook Virginia's reputation as a major player in Daily Fantasy Sports preceded it.
While promos favor new bettors, most Virginia sports bettors and fantasy players agree that there's a lot to like here. Fantasy sports players are fans of being able to draft a new lineup whenever needed and the variety of contests available.
BetRivers Virginia has competitive football odds boosters both for college football and NFL. VA bettors will have a hard time finding odds boosts like these.
Add an easy-to-access welcome offer without a lot of play-through required, and this Virginia sportsbook becomes a must have in your betting portfolio.
FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia was the first to open when it comes to online sportsbooks in Virginia, beating DraftKings Sportsbook to the punch by a couple of days.
FanDuel quickly became a popular online sports betting option in the Commonwealth, due in part to its partnership with the Washington Commanders and DC United. FD's website, loads fast with little to no load time. Players depend on Fanduel VA's ability to avoid downtime and to place wagers quickly.
If you've ever ordered sports merchandise, there's a good chance you've heard of Fanatics. Well, now that company has its own namesake sports betting brand - Fanatics Sportsbook Virginia. This brand new Virginia sports betting operator offers a strong rewards program, competitive odds and fantastic sports betting promos.
The latest online sportsbooks to get licensed in Virginia include ESPN BET Hard Rock Bet, bet365, and Betway Sportsbook. Fanatics Sportsbook Virginia is the newest sportsbook to launch in the state.
⭐ Fanatics Sportsbook | Launched November 2023 |
⭐ ESPN BET | Launched November 2023 |
⭐ Hard Rock Bet | Relaunched in August 2023 |
⭐ bet365 | Launched in January 2023 |
Apart from the top 9 sportsbooks featuring legal sports betting, the full list of legal Virginia sportsbooks also includes Bally Bet, PointsBet, Unibet, and more.
With 15 legal Virginia sportsbooks, you have plenty to pick from. While not every licensed sportsbook offer a new user bonus, you can still utilize each app to find the best odds available wherever you're located.
Yes, Virginia sports betting is legal and has been available to bettors since January 2021, when legislation was passed. To legally bet on sports in Virginia, you must be 21 years or older and physically in VA at the time you place a bet. VA sports betting sites are continuing to grow, with 15 legal Virginia sportsbooks to choose from.
Many reputable and licensed Virginia sports betting sites offer a wide range of promotions to attract new customers and retain existing ones. Sportsbooks often provide exclusive information via their apps on upcoming bonuses or limited-time offers that you might not find elsewhere.
Virginia sports betting sites should provide an extensive selection of sporting events from around the world, starting with the "must have" leagues such as NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, as well as international competitions like soccer's Premier League or tennis Grand Slam tournaments. Additionally, it is essential to explore the available betting options and features offered by different Virginia online sportsbooks.
If you are interested in Virginia sports betting, we want to help you get started. We showcase the best Virginia online sports betting sites and provide you with a sportsbook review for each. When you are ready to register for your first Virginia Sportsbook account, all you need to do is follow these simple steps:
As previously mentioned, online sports betting regulations were put into place to encourage competition among the houses. This can be a boon to players who want to try online sports betting in Virginia, as the big players in the sports betting industry are falling all over themselves to get people playing on their field.
Many factors can go into the decision of which of the Virginia Online Sportbooks is right for you. Whether you're looking to rack up reward program points or can't get enough bonus bets, you'll need to decide what's important to you. Here's what I consider.
This is perhaps one of the most important things to watch for as reviews give you insight into how sports bettors enjoyed their experience at the sportsbook. You can find reviews on sites such as this one, and we also suggest looking up reviews at the Apple App Store or Google Play. Don't just look at ratings – some people lose bets and blame the sportsbook. Read negative reviews to find out why that person is unhappy.
Sports bettors want to know that they can place the wagers they want and bet on sports they prefer to watch. Everyone's going to give you point spreads or futures for the Washington Commanders Super Bowl odds and allow for parlays in the college basketball betting section. But if you like obscure prop bets or the chance to bet on some of the more obscure sports, you'll have to do some digging. Make sure you can bet your way before you lay any money down.
At best, you're going to want the most favorable odds available to you. But at the very least, you need to know that the odds you're given through sportsbook operators in Virginia are fair and competitive to the ones that other bettors are getting. You also want to be sure that the lines will pay out in a way that it's worth your time and attention. You may also find better odds for, say, baseball, with one operator and more favorable lines for hockey on a different Virginia sportsbook. Don't be afraid to shop around.
If you've never read sports betting lines in the American odds format, these are the basics: A plus sign refers to an underdog, a minus sign refers to a favorite. The number indicates how heavy the odds are, and what kind of a payout you can expect if it hits.
Keep an eye on sports betting operators in Virginia to see what kind of promotions they're offering sports betting and how often they roll out. You'll see some places offering daily odds boosts, bonus bets, or insurance to protect a parlay that misses a single leg.
As far as I'm concerned, there are enough places offering deposit bonuses or bonus bets that there's just not a lot of sense using one that doesn't do that.
All the promos and great odds in the world aren't going to help you if you can't actually place the darn bet. VA betting sites need secure, stable software that allows users to quickly and easily record the wager they want. If the website is fine but the app crashes (or the other way around), that's no good either. Offer a full online sports betting experience where I don't have to worry about it breaking when I'm just trying to bet the Washington Commanders playoff odds.
Different houses accept different forms of payment, but the ones common across most of the operators include debit cards, online banking, PayPal, Play+ and other prepaid cards, and ACH e-checks. You may also see credit cards, PayNearMe, or Venmo depending on where you choose to play. The transactions are secure and can be trusted with any of the operators regulated by the Commonwealth.
You'll see similar options for banking when it comes to withdrawals. Obviously, electronic transfers move the fastest, but make sure you know how long you should expect to wait before hassling a customer support rep about it.
Every one of the sportsbook operators in Virginia has some kind of recourse for the customer should something go wrong. Something going wrong, by the way, doesn't mean complaining about a bad beat. That's just part of the game. But if you need assistance due to a software error or a compromised account, that's a different story. The most helpful options I've used are live chat support for speed, and email for ease of record-keeping, so I favor houses that use those types of support.
Virginia is the most populous state in the country without a major professional sports team playing within its borders, but six teams from Washington, D.C. have partnerships with an online sportsbook. To offset the lack of professional teams in VA, you can bet on any of the major sports leagues using the variety of sports betting sites in Virginia.
Virginia's limitation – that you cannot be on college sports if the team is based in the state – does not affect the broad range of available wager types. Here is every way you can bet on sports in Virginia.
No matter which of the Virginia sportsbook you opt for, you can expect a lot of overlap in the sports betting options you'll find when you open up the Virginia sportsbook. There's plenty of variation too, with some going in deep on international sports leagues and sports that are pretty obscure in America. But the traditional four major sports leagues in the country are well-represented wherever you go. It's when you want to bet on professional table tennis live from Moscow that you may have to dig.
Yes, online sportsbooks are legal in Virginia and available to Virginia residents. Gov. Ralph Northam signed the online sports betting bill into law in April of 2020, which provided for both online and retail sportsbooks in Virginia, like the BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino Portsmouth.
Because there were no brick-and-mortar casinos in Virginia then, there was a considerable delay between legalization and implementation. The Virginia Lottery Board chose which of the operators would qualify for a sports betting license, and The first bets were taken on January 22, 2021, when FanDuel sportsbook hit the scene.
The push for legal sports betting in Virginia goes back to when the lottery was legalized in 1997. Daily Fantasy came about in 2016 and when the state lottery when online in 2018 it began to look like only a matter of time.
Here is a timeline of the path to legal sports betting in Virginia.
All gambling winnings in Virginia are considered taxable income, including sports betting, and it's your responsibility to report gambling income on your tax return. Fortunately, we have a Virginia gambling tax calculator to determine how much you owe.
State taxes in Virginia range from 2% to 5.75%, and you can expect to pay taxes on any Virginia sports betting revenue, as well as any winnings coming from slots, the Virginia Lottery, or horse racing.
Retail sports betting and online sports betting are different for obvious reasons. If you want to bet on sports in person, you can check out our page to learn everything about Virginia casinos. In my opinion, the Virginia online sports betting experience is better all around. But judge for yourself. If you want to shop the lines, it's easier to switch between Virginia sportsbooks than to drive around to different retail sportsbooks. Plus, online sports betting comes with odds boosts and promotions you'll never get on a VA casino floor.
The Virginia Lottery regulates the Virginia sports betting industry. This includes the license application and approval process for all operators. The Lottery also has the power to issue and suspend licenses if needed.
As part of the regulations laid out, every legal operator must provide access to resources to encourage responsible betting. These include limits you can set through your accounts on money and time spent over a particular period of time. You can also opt for a "cool off" period where your account is temporarily disabled. If you think you may have a problem, please consider the Virginia Lottery Voluntary Exclusion Program or contact the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling.
When done responsibly, legalized sports betting in Virginia can be an entertaining and even lucrative pastime, and add a little sizzle to your sports fan experience. We recommend carefully reading BetVirginia.com reviews as well as the terms and conditions of any Virginia sportsbook you'd consider playing, setting and sticking to limits for yourself, and above all, have fun.
Yes. Virginia sports betting became legal on April 22, 2020, when lawmakers approved Gov. Ralph Northam's amended versions of sports gambling bills. The first operator went online in January 2021. There are 15 legal Virginia betting sites as of October 2023.
There are 15 online sports betting sites in Virginia: Betway, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, PointsBet, FanDuel Sportsbook, bet365, BetRivers, Unibet, Betfred Sports, ESPN BET, SI Sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, Bally Bet, and Betr. More mobile sports betting apps and sites could make their way to Virginia over time.
Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia went live on January 21, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. EST. FanDuel VA was the first online sports betting operator to receive a license and go live. Since then, FanDuel has been offering bettors the best promos and bonuses.
There are currently 15 online sports betting operators in Virginia taking bets including Betway, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, PointsBet, FanDuel Sportsbook, bet365, BetRivers, Unibet, Betfred Sports, SI Sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN BET, Bally Bet, and Betr. Retail sportsbooks include Danville Casino and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol.
Yes. In fact, Virginia was the first in the United States to pass legislation – the 2016 Fantasy Contests Act – to regulate the daily fantasy sports market. At that point, operators were required to register with the state, submit to audits and background checks and properly manage customer funds.
Virginia sports betting law dictates that adults can bet on most popular sporting events through several online sportsbooks, handled by secure websites and mobile apps. Additionally, Virginia bettors cannot place wagers on college sports teams based within Virginia, but betting on college sports for non-Virginia teams is allowed.
You must be at least 21 years of age to wager at online sportsbooks in Virginia. In addition to being at least 21, you must have a valid U.S. Social Security number and be physically located within Virginia state borders to bet online.
Author
Over the last 11 years, Joss has written about all aspects of online betting for some of the top online publications in gambling. After a career as an Army officer, he spent time in business before taking up online poker. He eventually found himself immersed in all things gambling, including casino gaming and sports betting. Now Joss spends his day crafting content to help bettors in Virginia take the emerging sports betting market head-on.
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