Online Gambling in

Virginia

With no physical casinos present, not to mention its conservative stance when it comes to gambling, Virginia gambling laws had to start from scratch. But a monumental shift in Virginia's stance on gambling has given birth to a law that now authorizes both in-person and mobile sports betting, as well as in-person casino gambling.

Virginia

Legal online gambling options: Sports betting

Virginia Online Gambling - At A Glance

Online sports betting: Legal ✅

Online casinos & poker: Not Legal ❌

Land-based casinos & sportsbooks: Legal ✅ (VA casinos still under construction)

Remote sign-up: Yes ✅

Legal online gambling since: January 2021

Legal VA gambling age: 21+

Online gambling guide
Virginia flag

VA SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION

Bill HB 4 at-a-glance

  • Minimum of four online sportsbooks, max of 12 online-only licenses
  • Opening of four yet-to-be-built casinos under terms of an accepted bill
  • Official league to be used (means sportsbooks must use official data from a sport’s leagues governing body to settle in-game wagers)
  • Betting banned on all VA based college and university teams (including prop bets)
  • Washington Redskins approved for its own betting operation at a new proposed stadium in VA and online via a partnership with FanDuel
  • Operators will be required to pay $250,000 for a license; revenue taxed at 15%

There’s a high chance the Washington Football Team, in search of a new location to build a new stadium, could do so in Northern Virginia.

The NFL side, which is in search of a site for a proposed new stadium, has been approved to run its own sports betting operation in VA that will allow in-person wagering at the stadium and online betting through FanDuel.

The same idea has previously been featured as part of the push for sports betting in Maryland. But the terms of the proposal on the table will see gambling help offset the cost of the build. Virginia is the most populous state without a major pro sports team.

Virginia Online Gambling FAQ

Is online gambling legal in Virginia?

Yes! Online gambling is allowed in the form of strictly sports betting. Online casinos are still off the table for now.

However, there are already confirmed plans to construct the first-ever land-based casinos in Virginia.

When did VA sports betting launch?

After the necessary legislation was passed in April 2020, online sports betting in VA officially launched in January 2021.

Am I able to bet in VA on my mobile phone?

Mobile sports betting is permitted under the terms of the bill. This means you are able to create a sports betting account and wager anywhere within state lines.

Will I be able to bet on college sports in Virginia?

As part of the incoming legislation, betting on all college and university sports (including prop bets) will be forbidden.

Which online sportsbooks are available in VA?

Bettors in VA can place their bets with their choice of:

  • BetMGM Sportsbook
  • BetRivers Sportsbook
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • DraftKings Sportsbook
  • FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Unibet Sportsbook
  • WynnBET Sportsbook

Betting on sports in VA

In terms of population, VA is the biggest state not to have its own professional side.

The Washington Football Team are arguably the state’s ‘home team’ when it comes to the NFL - the team does train and base themselves in Richmond and Ashburn after all. They could yet build a new stadium in Virginia too if team owner Daniel Snyder gets his way.

Virginians are also known to show their support for the Washington Nationals of the MLB. Between them, the state’s two adopted major league teams have enjoyed varying degrees of success.

The Redskins are the most prolific in terms of trophies won. Three Superbowl championships - would’ve been four but for a defeat to Los Angeles Raiders - and fourteen league titles, puts the National’s five East Division league titles firmly in the shade.

VA Sports Team Logos

The Washington Capitals (NHL) and the Washington Wizards (NBA) also receive plenty of backing from ice hockey and basketball fans respectively in Virginia.

How to bet on the Washington Football Team

The meteoric rise of the Super Bowl during recent years means the NFL is the average punter’s go-to in terms of betting.

Here are the two most common wagers for betting on the NFL.

How a 'Point Spread bet' works

As is the case with many of the high-scoring sports, the point spread is the go-to wager for bettors.

Point spread defined: point spread betting equalizes the chance of both winning the bet.

The team expected to win (the favorite) is assigned a minus (-) value while the team expected to lose (underdog) will have a plus (+) value next to it, as the fictitious game below shows:

  • Indianapolis Colts -4.5
  • Washington Football Team +4.5

For a wager on the favorite to be successful: Indianapolis Colts to win by five points or more

For a wager on the underdog to be successful: Washington Football Team needs to avoid a defeat of more than five points, or, win the game.

How a 'Money Line bet' works

Staking money on either side to win the game (i.e. a money line bet) is one of the more straightforward wagers you can make.

Here’s how a money line bet will look:

  • New York Giants -600
  • Dallas Cowboys +450

As with the point spread, the favorite is given negative odds and underdog given positive odds, as the example above shows:

The easiest way to understand how the bet works is to always use $100. Broken down then:

  • A wager on the Giants to win the game: requires a stake of $600, in order to win $100.
  • A wager on the Cowboys to win the game: requires a stake of $100, in order to potentially win $450.

A successful bet backing either side would see you take home your winnings and your stake.

Money line betting explained further

Bettors are likely to be drawn more toward backing the underdog and trying to profit from a small stake.

As it happens, the above example is a result which actually transpired a few seasons back with the Cowboys running out surprise victors, 33-20. The odds on offer produced winnings over four and half times the stake, going to show how profitable it can be to back the less fancied team - “every dog has its day” remember!

At the same time, this isn’t a regular occurrence when it comes to betting on the NFL hence why most bettors enjoy the better odds of a Point Spread bet.

However, you can win a sizable amount by making a simple money line bet. Back the underdog on the right day and even a low stake can yield a substantial return.

Course, there are no rules to say the favorite can’t be backed either. But the odds offered on an event expected to happen are naturally lower, naturally. A higher stake is required to yield a return of any sort.

How to bet on the Nationals

Typical money line wagers are among the most popular ways to bet on MLB.

The same for run line betting which carries the same principle as the point spread betting mentioned above.

For their ease and simplicity, totals bets - also referred to as Over/Under - are also common when betting on the MLB.

How a 'Totals bet' works

Oddsmakers will set a line on the total number of runs scored by both teams in a game.

All you have to do is choose whether the total number of runs in the game will produce ‘Over’ or ‘Under’ the line given.

Let’s say the line given for a game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies is seven. If you bet ‘Over’ and the final score is 5-4, you’d win your bet because the total of runs is nine.

Even if those nine runs are scored by one team, you’d still win your bet. As mentioned, this type of bet does not rely on the outcome of the game, only the total of runs scored.

If the game finished 4-3 either way, your bet would be considered a ‘push’. Neither the sportsbook or bettor has won so won all stakes are returned in full.

How a 'Futures bet' works

Future bets require the patience of the highest order. But good things come to those who wait, as they say!

In MLB, common futures bets center on the team to win the World Series Champion. But backing individual players to end the season with the most home runs or take home the MVP award, for example, are also typical wagers for baseball betting.

While a future bet can be placed at any point during a competition, your best chance of winning a significant payout is to place a bet prior to the competition starting. This is where you will find odds at their best in terms of value.