This in-depth review will give you the lowdown on online sports betting Virginia. Virginia bettors are spoilt for choice with 15 online sportsbooks. We’ve selected the best Virginia sports betting sites and VA Sports Betting Promos for you.
Up to 18 online sportsbook licenses and four retail sportsbook licenses are available in Virginia. Currently, 15 online sportsbooks are active. The Virginia Lottery Board regulates all gambling activity, and you can place a bet if you are 21 years old and physically located in VA state lines. You can bet on professional and college sports, but bets on in-state college teams are restricted.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery Board oversees sports betting in the state. In April 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed SB 384 and HB 896 into law, officially legalizing sports betting in Virginia. Since then, there have been attempts to overturn the restriction on in-state collegiate betting, but these efforts have been unsuccessful. As of June 2023, no new bills related to sports betting in Virginia have been proposed.
Virginia bettors may need help choosing the right sportsbook with so many choices available. We will compare the best Virginia betting platforms so you can select the Virginia betting site that is right for you. We’ll leave no stone unturned, comparing bonuses, apps, the range of sports, payment methods, and more.
BetMGM Sportsbook quickly became one of the nation’s leading sportsbooks after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was overturned in 2018. The MGM Resorts-owned sportsbook operates in 20 States and offers users a wide range of sports and betting markets.
The Caesars Sportsbook app is the perfect way to place bets while you are on the move. Caesars operates in over 20 US states and allows all players to join its Caesars Rewards for free. With this, you can earn points for betting and use them to redeem online bonuses or real-life perks.
Owned by casino operator Wynn Resorts, WynnBET Sportsbook operates in ten US states and has plenty to offer Virginia players. WynnBET has an excellent app, competitive odds with frequent odds boosts that give extra value to customers. They also provide an excellent welcome bonus for beginner bettors, check our WynnBET Sportsbook review to know more about promos and bonuses.
Backed by Flutter Entertainment, a global gambling giant, FanDuel has expanded into the sports betting market since launching as a DFS platform in 2009. FanDuel Sportsbook is incredibly welcoming to beginners, with guides on how to bet on particular sports. FanDuel is also partnered with many major leagues and sports franchises, offering frequent odds boosts.
DraftKings started life as a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) company and have expanded into sports betting since 2018. DraftKings Sportsbook is active in 23 states and allows you to access various gambling verticals while you bet, including free pool games, DFS, and the Reignmakers NFTs game.
DraftKings and BetMGM are both standout sportsbooks offering great welcome bonuses. Both are excellent sports betting apps in Virginia and consistently offer good odds. Both sites are excellent, but we believe that DraftKings provides a slightly better overall experience. This is due to the live-streaming options and the ease of placing bets while live streaming.
Our View: BetMGM has the best overall betting experience
Many of the best Virginia sports betting sites have loyalty programs that allow customers to earn bonuses and rewards by placing sports bets. BetMGM and Caesars have long-established rewards programs that are accessible through using an online sportsbook or visiting BetMGM or Caesars casino properties. We think Caesars Rewards edges out the MGM Rewards program because when Caesars Virginia Casino opens, you will be able to visit and use your Caesars Rewards points in person.
Our View: Caesars has the best overall rewards scheme
While deposits to the best Virginia sportsbooks are instant, withdrawals can take several days to process. BetMGM and FanDuel are two of the quickest sportsbooks in terms of withdrawal processing times, with most payment requests completed in 48 hours. We believe FanDuel just takes this category due to slightly faster withdrawals to e-wallets, which are often instant.
Our View: FanDuel is the best online sportsbook for payouts
DraftKings and FanDuel both make betting on the move easy for even the newest sports bettor. The apps are intuitive, responsive, and uncluttered, and betting markets can be located in just a few clicks. Placing a bet is easy, and we love the live-streaming options available. DraftKings win this category due to the simple user interface and integration with DraftKings Social.
Our View: DraftKings is best for mobile betting
Placing your first online sports bet can be confusing, but Caesars and FanDuel both make the process very easy to do. Both sportsbook apps have a layout that makes finding your betting market and placing a wager very easy. FanDuel edges this category because of the useful "How To" guides available for new bettors.
Our View: FanDuel is the best sportsbook for new bettors.
We never want to use customer support, but it's good to know that if it is needed, your issues will be dealt with quickly and efficiently. WynnBET and BetMGM both allow you to contact live chat 24/7 and have a variety of other contact options like email and social media. Both sites also have well-organized FAQ sections. In our experience, while both customer support teams respond quickly, WynnBET is usually faster to connect.
Our View: WynnBET has the best customer support
DraftKings is an official betting partner of the NFL and provides some of the most generous odds on the league in the US. However, FanDuel has a betting partnership with the Washington Commanders, so you'll frequently find boosted odds on the team.
Our View: FanDuel is the best for odds on NFL Washington Commanders
WynnBET has generous odds across the NBA, and you can improve your payouts by using the sportsbook many odds boost promotions, particularly for parlays. Despite this, Caesars is the best for Washington Wizards fans as the official betting partner of the team. Not only will you find generous odds on every Wizards market, but you can also use your Caesars Rewards points to claim fan experiences like tickets and stadium visits.
Our View: Caesars is the best for odds on NBA Washington Wizards
The Washington Capitals are the most popular NHL team in VA, and FanDuel is an official betting partner of the NHL. The sportsbook provides plenty of unique markets and odds for NHL games but can't compare to the options for the Capitals at Caesars Sportsbook Virginia. Caesars operates a retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena as an official betting partner of the franchise and provides plenty of fan benefits and generous odds for Capitals games.
Our View: Caesars is the best for odds on NHL Washington Capitals
Both BetMGM and Caesars provide competitive odds for moneylines, point spreads, and totals featuring Virginia favorite, the Washington Nationals. However, BetMGM is an official betting partner of the team, operates a retail sportsbook at its National Park stadium, and allows you to bet with exclusive odds boosts on the team. You can also earn chances to visit National Park and other fan experiences through the MGM Rewards program.
Our View: BetMGM is best for odds on MLB Washington Nationals
You can bet on college sports in Virginia, but you cannot bet on in-state teams like the Virginia Tech Hokies. However, FanDuel and DraftKings provide competitive odds for the available college sports markets. FanDuel odds tend to just edge out DraftKings, with particularly generous point spreads on sports like basketball and football.
Our View: FanDuel is best for odds on college basketball
To bet on horse racing in Virginia, you need to place pari-mutuel wagers. As this is a different type of betting, most Virginia online sports betting sites don't provide horse racing betting. FanDuel and DraftKings Virginia are two exceptions to this rule.
DraftKings' DK Horse allows you to bet on races across the US and the world, with pre-race and in-running odds available. However, FanDuel's horse racing betting platform is powered by TVG, which provides some of the best horse racing live streaming in the US.
Our View: FanDuel is best for horse racing
Signing up for multiple Virginia sports betting sites offers several advantages. It provides access to a wider range of betting options, competitive odds, and diverse promotions. Additionally, it allows users to compare and choose the best platforms, maximize bonuses, and take advantage of unique features offered by each site.
Registering with multiple VA betting sites allows you to compare and secure the best odds. Each platform sets its own odds, so having multiple accounts helps you optimize your potential winnings.
Signing up with top Virginia betting sites lets you enjoy a variety of promotions and bonuses. Diversifying your accounts grants you access to a wider range of offers, including sign-up bonuses and ongoing promotions.
Multiple sports betting sites in Virginia offer a larger selection of bet types. Exploring different platforms adds excitement and profitability to your sports betting endeavors by embracing a wider variety of betting opportunities.
Trying different brands helps you assess factors like user-friendliness, customer support, and payment options. Discover the platform that best suits your preferences for an optimal betting experience.
VA betting sites can have different rules and regulations. By registering on multiple platforms, you have the flexibility to select the one that aligns with your individual needs, ensuring an ideal betting site that meets your expectations.
Virginia residents have been able to wager on sports since January 2021. Governor Ralph Northam signed SB 384 and HB 896 to write sports betting into Virginia law in April 2020, and the Virginia Lottery Board had the required infrastructure to launch sports betting nine months later.
Sports betting has been a considerable success in Virginia, and the state is in the top ten for overall sports betting handles in the US. A Betting handle is the total value of bets placed, and legal Virginia sports betting sites have accepted over $10 billion in wagers, generating almost $100 million of revenue in taxes for the state.
As with many other legal US states, FanDuel leads the way in contributing to the betting handle. FanDuel Virginia accepted over $2 billion of sports bets, followed by DraftKings Virginia with over $1 billion.
Virginia sports betting history is limited, with a Virginia resident having only horse racing and the lottery in the state prior to 2018. The Virginia Lottery and pari-mutuel wagering were legalized in 1988, and nothing of note happened until 2019, when Virginia legalized commercial casinos.
Despite the lack of history, recent events have shown a huge appetite for sports betting. Virginia is a top-10 state by betting volume. This could be even bigger as while there are no major league teams in the state, there are plenty of NCAA Division I college Virginia teams. However, betting on in-state college teams is currently prohibited.
To guarantee a safe and secure betting experience, it is essential to choose sportsbooks that are legal in Virginia. These regulated platforms offer numerous advantages compared to unlicensed or offshore operators.
Mobile sports betting apps allow Virginia sports bettors to place a wager at any time from anywhere within VA state lines. Apps are easy to use, responsive, and quick, and even novice bettors can use these apps like experts in no time. The convenience of placing sports bets on the go attracts sports bettors to use apps instead of retail sportsbooks.
To get started with sports betting in Virginia:
Ensure that your Android device is running the latest version. The sportsbook will specify the required Android version on its Store page. Typically, Android 5.0 is sufficient, but more advanced sports betting apps may require Android 7.0 or higher.
To place sports wagers using the latest Apple smartphones in Virginia:
In Virginia sports betting, promotions and sign-up bonuses play a crucial role. They offer incentives for new Virginia users and can greatly enhance your initial bankroll. All of the sports betting promos encompass a range of bonuses, including deposit matches and bonus bets.
Returning members can also benefit from ongoing bonuses, such as loyalty rewards, reload bonuses, and exclusive promotions for special events. By leveraging these offers, you can optimize your betting experience and make the most out of your wagers.
Virginia sportsbooks offer reload bonuses to boost your betting account. For example, you might receive a 50% bonus, up to $100, on your second deposit. This means that if you deposit $200, you'll get an extra $100 in bonus funds.
Take advantage of Bonus bets in Virginia. As a new user, you could receive a $20 bonus bet when you sign up with a sportsbook. Use this bet to place a wager without using your own money. If you win, you'll receive the winnings minus the initial stake.
Get better odds with enhanced odds promotions. Virginia sportsbooks may offer improved odds for specific events or outcomes. For instance, you could find enhanced odds of +300 for the Virginia Cavaliers to win a basketball game, compared to the regular odds of +200. This gives you a chance to win higher payouts if the Wahoos come out on top.
Enjoy loyalty programs that reward your consistent betting activity. By placing bets, you earn loyalty points that can be redeemed for various rewards, such as bonus bets, merchandise, and exclusive promotions. As you continue to bet, your loyalty level increases, unlocking even more enticing benefits along the way.
Refer your friends to a Virginia sportsbook and receive bonuses. When your referred friend signs up, makes a deposit, or places bets, you'll be rewarded for your successful referral. These bonuses can come in the form of bonus funds or other valuable perks, providing benefits for both you and your friend.
VA betting platfoms offer event-specific bonuses tied to major sporting events or special occasions. For example, if you bet on the Richmond Raceway during a specific event, you may receive extra bonus bets or enhanced odds on related markets, enhancing your excitement and potential winnings.
Virginia sports betting offers a variety of bet types that provide diverse wagering options for games and events. Each bet type has its own unique characteristics. Here are several common bet types you can enjoy:
In spread betting, teams are designated as favorites or underdogs with a predetermined points margin. The favored team is expected to win by more than the spread, while the underdog is anticipated to win or lose by a narrower margin. For example, if the Dallas Cowboys have a spread of -6.5 against the Washington Commanders, they must win by at least 7 points for the bet to be successful.
With moneyline betting, you simply choose the team you think will win the game outright. The odds associated with each team indicate the potential payout. If the Boston Celtics have a moneyline of -150 against the Washington Wizards, a $150 bet on the Celtics would yield a $100 profit if they win.
Parlay bets involve combining multiple individual wagers into a single bet. All selections within the bet must be correct to win. For example, you can create a parlay bet by combining the moneyline wagers of the Washington Nationals, Washington Capitals, and Washington Wizards. If all three teams win, your bet will be successful, resulting in a potentially higher payout.
In totals betting, you predict whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a specific number set by the sportsbook. For instance, if the total for a Virginia Cavaliers basketball game is set at 150.5 points, you can bet on whether the final score will be higher or lower than that. If the total score is 146, an under bet would be successful.
Futures bets are placed on outcomes that will be determined at a later time, such as championship winners or season-long achievements. These bets allow you to make predictions well in advance, potentially resulting in significant returns. For example, at the beginning of the NHL season, you can place a futures bet on the Washington Capitals to win the Stanley Cup. If the Capitals secure the championship, your bet will be successful.
Live betting, also known as in-play betting, allows you to place bets on various aspects of a game as it unfolds in real-time. You can react to the action and make bets on the next team to score or the outcome of the current drive. For instance, during a Washington Nationals baseball game, you can bet on whether the next pitch will be a ball or a strike. Live betting adds excitement and interactivity to your Virginia sports betting experience.
The best Virginia sportsbooks will offer 20+ different sports to wager on, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB all the way through to niche sports like snooker and cricket. There are no major league sports teams in Virginia, but there are no shortage of teams to root for in neighboring states. Teams from the Washington D.C. area dominate the Virginia sports fandom due to the close proximity of D.C. to the Old Dominion.
The Commanders have a rich history but have faced struggles in recent years. The three-time Super Bowl winners are partners with Fanatics Sportsbook. FedExField was the first NFL Stadium to house a retail sportsbook when Fanatics opened its first US sportsbook there in January 2023. The Commanders hold training camps yearly in Richmond and are headquartered in Virginia.
Caesars Sportsbook is a sports betting partner with the Washington Wizards, and you can place bets on hundreds of different NBA markets, including moneylines, spreads, and same game parlays. Watch out for odds boosts on the Wizards as the team tries to add to the single NBA Championship earned in 1978.
The Washington Nationals were founded in 1969 but didn’t see sustained success until the 2010s, winning its first World Series in 2019 alongside four NL East titles. The Nationals are partnered with BetMGM, where you’ll be able to stream MLB games while placing live bets.
The Washington Capitals won the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2018 behind the brilliant play of the ageless Alexander Ovechkin. Caesars is partnered with the Capitals, so Virginia sports bettors can expect to see lots of boosted odds offers as well as moneylines, point spreads, totals, and prop bets.
DC United is one of the most successful US soccer clubs, winning four MLS Cups, four Supporters Shields, three US Open Cups, and one CONCACAF Champions League title. United is partnered with FanDuel, and a FanDuel retail sportsbook is open at Audi Field, home of DC United in Washington. Virginia bettors see the benefit of this, with FanDuel offering great odds and giveaways for United matches.
College sports betting is legal in Virginia, but you can only bet on games involving out-of-state college teams. Lawmakers have realized the negative impact of this on Virginia sports betting revenue, but attempts to lift this restriction have proved unsuccessful. As such, you will have to go out of state to place legal wagers on Virginia college sports teams.
Virginia residents can legally enjoy horse racing betting, Daily Fantasy Sports, and the lottery. Casino gambling is also legal following HB 1126 passing in 2019. Betting on eSports is legal, but betting on political elections is not.
To start sports betting in Virginia:
In Virginia, sportsbooks offer various banking options for deposits and withdrawals.
Taking fees and other considerations into account is vital when choosing banking options.
Virginia sports betting launched in January 2021, nine months after Governor Ralph Northam legalized sports wagering. Virginia lawmakers moved quickly after sports betting in the Commonwealth became a possibility, first passing SB 1126 in 2019, allowing casinos to be built in the state. This was followed by SB 384 and HB 896, which brought legal sports betting. The bills legalized online and retail sports betting, with four retail licenses and up to 18 online sports betting licenses available.
You can bet anywhere in Virginia with a licensed sportsbook as long as you are over 21 and using a licensed betting site. To prove your age, you will need to submit a copy of your photo ID to your Virginia online sports betting site. You will also need to enable your geolocation services on your device to prove you are playing within Virginia state lines.
Additionally, playing at a Virginia online casino is still not allowed.
Virginia sports betting licenses are available for online sportsbooks and retail sportsbooks. One sports betting license is available for each of the four casinos in the state. There are up to 18 online sportsbook licenses available. 15 of the 18 licenses have now been allocated. A sportsbook license costs an initial fee of $250,000, with a renewal fee of $200,000, due every three years. There are no professional sports teams in Virginia, but there is an option available for a professional sports team to operate a sportsbook license if a franchise moves to Virginia.
The Virginia Lottery Board oversees sports betting in Old Dominion. The Board's responsibilities include issuing sports betting licenses, establishing the rules and regulations around sports betting, and ensuring that these rules are followed. The panel of seven board members assesses all applications submitted to the Virginia Lottery Board. The Board will determine whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to be issued a Virginia sportsbook license.
SB 384 is the bill that legalized sports betting in Virginia. Note that HB 896 is identical to SB 384. The text summary sets out the key items to note, including the fees charged, prohibited sports and events, and tax rates charged.
Events on which betting is prohibited clearly sets out what events are not legal to bet on in Virginia. High school sports, prop bets on college sports, and bets on Virginia college teams are all prohibited.
Multiple organizations provide support for problem gamblers in Virginia. The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and The Virginia Lottery both provide problem gamblers and their families with support and resources to tackle problem gambling and promote responsible gambling.
The Virginia Lottery Board regulates all sports betting activities in the state, and the Board's website provides a comprehensive guide to all activities in Virginia.
Virginia shares a border with five states and the District of Columbia. All five states offer some form of legal sports betting or will do soon. Kentucky has legalized sports betting, with online sportsbooks due to launch in December 2023. North Carolina offers retail sports betting in three locations, but online sports betting is due to launch in early-2024. Tennessee, West Virginia, and Maryland all offer state-wide online sports betting similar to that offered by Virginia. Tennessee restricts in-state college betting, but West Virginia and Maryland have no such restrictions in place.
College sports in Virginia are huge, with the state playing host to 14 Division I programs. Unfortunately for bettors, betting on in-state college sports in Virginia is prohibited, so you will need to head to neighboring Tennessee, West Virginia, or Maryland if you want to bet on Virginia sports teams. All prop bets on college sports are prohibited. As with all states where sports betting is legal, betting on high school sports is illegal.
There are clear advantages and disadvantages to both retail sports betting and mobile sports betting. Mobile betting offers the convenience of placing wagers when you want without having to travel anywhere (as long as you are within VA state lines). We also like the cash out facility available with online sportsbooks in Virginia. On the other hand, retail sportsbooks offer instant payouts, whereas mobile sports betting takes 2-5 days for payouts to be processed. We’ve compiled a list of the key pros and cons below.
Virginia betting sites offer several different tools to help customers gamble responsibly. Customers can take time outs and impose deposit and bet limits to help tackle problem gambling. The Virginia Lottery Board ensures that all licensed sportsbooks offer responsible gambling tools as Virginia sports betting law dictates.
Sports betting has been legal in Virginia since Governor Ralph Northam signed HB 896 and SB 384 on April 22, 2020. Online sportsbooks in Virginia launched nine months later on January 21, 2021, and Virginia now boasts 15 legal online sports betting sites. Retail sports betting is also legal.
Online sports betting in Virginia has been operational since January 2021, and 15 online sportsbooks are available to use in Old Dominion. We've picked out some of the top platforms and highlighted how each performs compared to the others so you can select the most suitable platform for you. Click the links on this page to sign up with the best Virginia sports betting sites and claim generous welcome bonuses.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Virginia, and 15 VA online sports betting sites are operating. Sports betting launched in Virginia in January 2021 after Governor Ralph Northam signed SB 384 and HB 896.
Yes, FanDuel is one of the sportsbooks that the Virginia Lottery Board licenses. Virginia sports bettors can wager with FanDuel or choose to enter Daily Fantasy Sports tournaments.
DraftKings is one of the most popular sportsbooks available in Virginia. When sports betting was legalized in Old Dominion, DraftKings was one of the first Virginia sports betting sites available.
Sportsbooks are charged 15% on sports betting revenue generated. Individuals pay taxes up to 24% on sports betting winnings to the IRS, and state income tax is also payable between 2% and 5.75%.