Like most states in October, Virginia sports betting set a record for handle thanks to five full weekends of NFL and college football during the month. It’s actually become noteworthy if a state didn’t set a record in October.
The total handle for Virginia during October was $427.3 million, a 45% increase from the $293.9 million wagered in September, according to the Virginia State Lottery, which released the October figures on Wednesday. That put the national handle for October to more than $6 billion.
Football certainly helped pace Virginia sports betting as September was a 61% increase from August. The NFL and college football regular seasons began in full force in September.
Since the sports betting market launched in late January, bettors in Virginia have wagered a combined total of nearly $2.4 billion.
The lottery said the October report include nine licensed operators — Betfair Interactive US LLC (FanDuel) in partnership with the Washington Football Team, Crown Virginia Gaming LLC (DraftKings Virginia), BetMGM LLC, Rivers Portsmouth Gaming LLC (Rivers Casino Portsmouth), Caesars Virginia LLC, WSI US, LLC (Wynn), Unibet Interactive, Inc., Penn Sports Interactive LLC and Golden Nugget Online Gaming VA.
Golden Nugget Online Gaming went live at the end of September and was fully operational during October.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-522-4700, (800) 327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), or visit http://www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bet must settle by and Token expires 2/22/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: http://sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 2/15/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Virginia Sports Betting, October vs. September
| Total Handle | Revenue | Taxes |
|---|
| October | $427.320M | $9.786M | $1.746M |
| September | $293.852M | $10.334M | $1.557M |
| Change | Up 45.4% | Down 5.3% | Up 12.1% |
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Here are some key takeaways from the Virginia Gambling report and an update on sportsbooks in the state:
All Mobile, All the Time
For now, Virginia is an all-mobile market. There will be retail sportsbooks in four casinos when they are built, but that isn’t likely until at least 2023. One casino in Bristol plans to open a temporary site in 2022, according to local reports, with a permanent facility opening in late 2023 or early 2024.
Virginia joins Tennessee and Wyoming with all-mobile markets.
Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First wager after registration must qualify. Min. Odds: -500. Max. Bonus Bet: $250. Awarded as non-withdrawable Bonus Bet that expires 14 days after receipt. Bonus Bet amount not returned for winning bets. Void where prohibited. See http://Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, OH, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS (Affiliated with Kansas Crossing Casino), ME (Licensed through the Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, federally recognized tribes located in the State of Maine), NC (Licensed through Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise), PA (Affiliated with Harrah's Philadelphia): If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or MD: visit http://mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit http://1800gambler.net ; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; LA (Licensed through Horseshoe Bossier City and Caesars New Orleans), Washington, DC (OLG Class A licensed Operator): Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2025, Caesars Entertainment Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER DC, LA: Call 1-800-522-4700 MA: Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369)
Revenue Down, Taxes Up
Although Virginia had a record-setting month for handle, the October sports betting AGR (adjusted gross revenue) was $9.8 million, down 5.3% from September’s $10.3 million. Sportsbooks had a combined hold of 7.06%, according to the lottery.
But the state saw more money as October sports betting taxes were $1.7 million, an increase of 12.1% from September’s $1.6 million. Operators are taxed at 15% based on the AGR.
The Virginia gambling law allows sportsbooks to deduct some customer acquisition costs from AGR, and operators reported that more than $15.8 million in bonuses and free-play incentives were offered in October.
Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First wager after registration must qualify. Min. Odds: -500. Max. Bonus Bet: $250. Awarded as non-withdrawable Bonus Bet that expires 14 days after receipt. Bonus Bet amount not returned for winning bets. Void where prohibited. See http://Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, OH, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS (Affiliated with Kansas Crossing Casino), ME (Licensed through the Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, federally recognized tribes located in the State of Maine), NC (Licensed through Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise), PA (Affiliated with Harrah's Philadelphia): If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or MD: visit http://mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit http://1800gambler.net ; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; LA (Licensed through Horseshoe Bossier City and Caesars New Orleans), Washington, DC (OLG Class A licensed Operator): Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2025, Caesars Entertainment Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER DC, LA: Call 1-800-522-4700 MA: Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369)
10 Sportsbooks Now Live
Virginia online sports betting currently has 10 sportsbooks live. Bally Bet was the most recent sportsbook to go live on Thanksgiving Day. Three other online sportsbooks — PointsBet, Betway and 888 — have recently been awarded temporary permits by the lottery, but have not announced when they will launch in the state.
The last two to gain approval, according to its website, were Betway (parent company Digital Gaming was awarded a temporary permit on Nov. 24) and 888 Sports (Virginia subsidiary listed as VHL VA LCC was approved on Nov. 25). The sportsbook operators have not announced when they will launch in the state.
They joined PointsBet, whose approval was posted on the website on Nov. 22. PointsBet has a partnership agreement in Virginia with Colonial Downs Group, which was also approved for a temporary permit the same day as PointBet.
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