• Virginia Sports Betting Launch Date
• Virginia Sports Betting Draftkings
• Virginia Sports Betting Start

Jan 27, 2021 Virginia surprisingly launched online sports betting this past Thursday, with FanDuel Sportsbook opening for business right away. Competitor DraftKings Sportsbook joined the party Sunday,. Virginia sports betting became legal in April 2020, when the Virginia state legislature passed a sports betting bill. Betting on sports in Virginia eventually will become available from anywhere within the borders of the state. Mobile VA sports betting on smartphones will allow bettors to sign up for and fund accounts through apps on your device. 2 days ago Sports betting is expected to bring a significant profit for the Virginia Lottery, which is good news for the good cause the Lottery supports, meaning K-12 schools in the Commonwealth. Source: “Virginia Lottery Board approves initial casino gaming regulations as sports betting moves forward”, WFXR TV, February 4, 2021. Parlays, point spreads: Sports betting launches in Virginia Posted on January 21, 2021 FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Sports betting in Virginia is now a reality after the state lottery approved an online sportsbook operated by FanDuel through a partnership with the Washington Football Team. SB384 – Sports betting. Virginia’s law to legalize sports betting is a comprehensive piece of legislation that should create one of the stronger sports betting markets in the country. The provisions for both online and retail sports betting mean that there will always be a place to wager on sports in Virginia very soon.

Virginia online sports betting with the first apps launching in January 2021.

Virginia officially legalized online sports betting in July 2020, and online sportsbooks are on the launch pad. Bettors in Virginia will see legal sports betting sites and apps in time for Super Bowl LV in 2021. FanDuel announced its official launch on January 21, 2021.

Virginia voters also legalized land-based casinos in four cities across the state: Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. However, they won’t open their doors until 2022 or 2023.

Thankfully, sports betting sites and apps don’t need a partnership with land-based properties like they do in other states. From anywhere within Virginia state lines, anyone over 21 will be able to bet at legal online sportsbooks from their laptop, desktop, or mobile device.

Legal online casinos and online poker sites are not available in Virginia.

List Of Legal Online Sportsbooks In Virginia

Although FanDuel Virginia was the first to launch, we anticipate a handful of other sportsbooks will launch within the first few weeks after launch:

• FanDuel Sportsbook >> Claim a $1000 risk free bet at FanDuel Virginia

What Other Legal Online Sportsbooks Are Coming To Virginia?

The Virginia Lottery can issue up to 12 online sports betting licenses, and they received 25 applications leading up to launch. While they won’t publicize the list of applicants, the potential additional online sportsbooks include:

• Caesars Sportsbook
• Barstool Sports
• TwinSpires Sportsbook

What Online Sportsbook Bonuses Will Be Available In Virginia?

No-Deposit Free Bets

A few online sportsbooks offer no-deposit free bets. This means you get a free chance to win without depositing money. The only requirement is that you create and verify a new account.

For example, in the past, DraftKings Sportsbook offered a $25 free bet to new members who sign up. The full amount must be placed on a single bet with odds -200 or longer, and it can’t be placed on teasers.

But if you win that free bet, you can cash out the winnings, all without making a deposit.

Deposit Match Bonus

A deposit match bonus is where an online sportsbook matches your deposit amount by a percentage.

The best example is at BetRivers Sportsbook Virginia, where new members get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250. Essentially, they’ll double your money on your first deposit.

The only stipulations are that you have to bet the full amount before you can cash out, and the bets must be on odds of -200 or longer.

Risk-Free Bets

A risk-free bet bonus is exactly how it sounds. You deposit money in the account, and your first bet is risk-free. If it wins, you keep the wager amount and the winnings. If the bet loses, the amount is credited back to your account.

FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia will offer a risk-free bet up to $1,000 for new members. The refunded credit must be bet at least once before cashout.

Bet-Match Bonus

This is a somewhat unusual welcome bonus, but it’s offered by Caesars Sportsbook, and other platforms will offer it as a promotion here and there.

A bet-match bonus is similar to a deposit match bonus. The sportsbook will match your first bet with an additional free bet of an equal amount. At Caesars, the bet-match is up to $500.

What Sports Can You Bet On In Virginia?

You will be able to bet on all types of professional and collegiate sporting events with a few key exceptions:

• You cannot bet on in-state Virginia colleges.
• You cannot place in-game bets on college games.
• No betting on the Olympics is allowed.

Aside from those three areas, sports bettors in Virginia have access to all major sports competitions, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS as well as NCAA D1 events.

Women’s sports leagues will also be represented, including both men’s and women’s MMA, as well as many international sports, such as European soccer, Australian football, and cricket in Asia.

You can also bet on sports tournaments where a Virginia college team is participating, such as March Madness. You just can’t bet on a single game matchup with an in-state team.

What Types Of Bets Are Allowed In Virginia?

Virginia sports bettors will have access to all types of bets, with the only restrictions being on specific sports rather than the bets themselves. Here are the types of bets you can expect:

• Straight Bet/Moneyline
• Points Spread
• Totals (Over/Under)
• In-Game/Living Betting (Professional Sports Only)
• Prop Bets
• Futures
• Parlays
• Teasers/Pleasers

Betting On US Pro Sports In Virginia

Despite the Commonwealth of Virginia not having any professional sports teams of their own, locals have plenty of love for nearby teams in DC, Baltimore, and elsewhere. And folks in the state know that the Washington Football Team claims the strongest fandom.

Now, you’ll be able to bet on any professional sport via legal sports betting apps and sites. Pro sports in the US is an unrestricted market, meaning you can place any type of bet on any pro sports team in the Commonwealth.

All Virginia sportsbooks will make all major US professional sports leagues available for betting. You can join multiple platforms and compare the odds, as they will be largely offering the same bets but with varying win potential.

Washington DC has restrictive sports betting laws that require in-person betting or using the state-run GambetDC, which offers terrible odds. As a result, Virginia will likely become the ideal place for betting on the Washington Football Team and all other DC teams.

College Sports Betting In Virginia

As mentioned above, it will be illegal to bet on in-state Virginia teams, even if they’re playing an away game. You can’t bet on the University of Virginia or Virginia Tech, which is frustrating. It is highly unlikely that will change too.

However, you can bet on all other college sports. The only restriction here is that you can’t place in-game wagers (AKA live betting) on collegiate competitions, which are bets placed after the game begins.

It’s still unclear whether you can legally play March Madness brackets, seeing as the University of Virginia and William and Mary are often in the tournament. However, many sportsbooks, most notably DraftKings and FanDuel, host free bracket tournaments for a chance to win a long list of prizes.

What International Sports Can You Bet On In Virginia?

Virginia does not have any specific restrictions on international sports as long as they’re professional level. However, the Virginia Lottery has to approve each type of sport before it’s allowed in a sportsbook. That means the more obscure contests may not be listed.

In general, though, international sports will be available at Virginia’s online sports betting apps and sites. The most popular international sports leagues for US bettors include:

• The English Premier League
• UEFA Champions League
• FIFA World Cup
• Formula One
• Japan’s NPB (baseball)
• Australian Rules Football

The list goes on, and the soccer leagues in Spain, Germany, and France are also highly popular options. All of the above and more will be available for betting at Virginia sportsbooks.

But, unfortunately, the Olympic Games will not be a legal option for betting in the Commonwealth.

Can You Bet On Esports In Virginia?

Not yet. The Virginia Lottery will greenlight the launch of licensed sportsbooks without the inclusion of esports betting.

But there’s nothing stopping online sportsbooks from seeking approval for esports betting. DraftKings DFS already offers Daily Fantasy Esports, and that’s available to folks in Virginia.

Simply, it’s safe to hope that esports becomes a common betting option at Virginia sportsbooks in the near future.

Can I Place Parlay Bets At Virginia’s Online Sportsbooks?

Yes, you will be able to place parlay bets at the online sports betting apps and websites available in Virginia. Parlay betting in Virginia is legal for professional, college, and international sports.

A parlay bet is when you tie multiple bets together into one overall wager. To win a parlay, each individual bet needs to win; if even one loses, the whole parlay loses.

The reason you would place a parlay bet is to significantly boost your overall winning potential. While one team on an NFL points spread will generally have odds of -110, a three-team parlay will generally have odds of +600.

To put that into perspective, a $100 bet on -110 odds would win $90.91 (for a total payout of $190.91). But a $100 bet on +600 odds would win $600 (for a total payout of $700).

Like with all bets, the less likely you are the win, the higher the potential payout. So the more teams in a parlay, the bigger the win potential.

Teasers And Pleasers

Teasers and pleasers are parlays with adjusted odds.

For teasers, you can adjust the points spread in your favor to have a higher chance of winning the parlay. For example, rather than a +3.5 points spread, you might change it to a +6.5 spread to make the underdog more likely to cover.

A teaser is still less likely to win than a single points spread bet, but it’s more likely than a standard parlay.

Pleasers are the opposite of a teaser, where the points spreads are adjusted to be more in the sportsbook’s favor than the bettor’s. For example, a -3.5 points spread increased to -6.5 would make the favorite less likely to cover.

If the standard parlay’s win potential isn’t high enough, a pleaser might be a good route.

What Do I Need To Create An Online Sportsbook Account In Virginia?

To create an online sportsbook account in Virginia, you’ll need to do the following:

• Provide your email address and phone number to confirm your account.
• Provide your name, address, and the last four digits of your SSN to confirm your identity.
• Create your username (if it’s not your email) and password. Make it something strong, and don’t share it with anyone else. You should also update your password three to four times per year.

You also need to be at least 21 years old. And to place a bet at a Virginia online sportsbook, you need to be physically inside the Commonwealth. However, you can join, deposit, and withdraw from out of state.

Virginia Sportsbook Apps For iOS

The Apple App Store allows legal gambling apps. As long as they’re a legitimate and licensed platform and comply with Apple’s development requirements, they get approved by Apple. That means if the Virginia Lottery approves of a sportsbook app, it will be listed in the App Store.

However, make sure the app is specifically available in Virginia. Some will be state-specific (like FOX Bet and BetMGM) while others will list the accessible states at the bottom of their description (like DraftKings and FanDuel).

Android User Guide to Virginia Sportsbook Apps

For Android users, you’ll need to download the sportsbook app directly from the sports betting website. This is because the Google Play store does not list real-money gambling apps.

However, the online sportsbooks make it easy. Simply visit the website of the brand you want on your Android device. You’ll be prompted to download the app, and you’ll be good to go in just a few steps.

Warning: Do not download any sportsbook apps from a third-party site. Make sure you only download the Android app directly from the sportsbook of your choice.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Versus Illegal Online Sportsbooks In Virginia

If you played at illegal online sportsbooks in Virginia prior to the legalization, it’s tough to blame you. Not only were there no legal sports betting options, but Virginia is also one of the few states without any casinos or poker rooms too.

However, now that Virginia legalized online sports betting, there’s no good reason to bet at an illegal site.

While there’s a small chance of getting into legal trouble, that’s the least of your concerns when you’re playing at an illegal site. These platforms are notorious for:

• Refusing to pay out legitimate winnings.
• Selling your personal and financial information to sketchy third-parties.
• Offering unfair odds or rigged casino games.
• Hiding ridiculous terms and conditions, like 50x to 100x wagering requirements for bonus offers.

On the flipside, legal online sportsbooks in Virginia:

• Are regulated by the Virginia Lottery, which means they’re required by law to pay out legitimate winnings.
• Will have all Privacy Policy clearly spelled out so you know exactly what they do with your information.
• Offer competitive odds due to regulations as well as being in a competitive market.
• Keep their terms and conditions transparent, particularly with wagering requirements. (BetRivers has a 1x wagering requirement for their welcome bonus.)

Sports betting is risky enough. Avoid illegal sites to ensure you’re not putting yourself in danger.

What Else Can You Bet On In Virginia?

Online Horse Betting In Virginia

Online horse race betting is legal in Virginia. Colonial Downs Racetrack is the only Virginia racetrack still in operation. It recently had no scheduled races for more than half a decade, but races resumed in 2020 over a month-long period.

You can also legally bet on any horse track in the US and abroad online in Virginia. Here is a list of some of the best horse race betting sites available to Virginians:

• TVG
• TwinSpires
• NYRA

Another option is to visit one of four Virginia OTB facilities, which are located in Chesapeake, Henrico, Richmond, and Collinsville.

Online Lottery

Virginia is one of just a few states that has an online lottery. This means you can buy tickets, win, and withdraw your winnings all on the Virginia Lottery website or app, which is available for iOS and Android.

Through your account, you can play Instants as well as interstate lottery pool games like Mega Millions, Powerball, and Cash4Life. However, other forms of Virginia Lotto games are only available at land-based retailers.

Feel free to use our lottery number generator to select lucky numbers.

Online, prizes $100 and under are instantly added to your account. Prizes over $100 require you fill out an online claim form, but that only takes a few minutes.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

Virginia was the first state to officially legalize Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). In most states, DFS is not explicitly legal, so operators are allowed to offer their platforms. Others outright ban DFS.

Virginia took the guesswork out of it and established state-specific regulations.

You can legally play at all the major DFS platforms, but the two biggest are DraftKings and FanDuel. Remember, the DFS platform is different from the sports betting side, meaning you’ll need to download separate apps if you want to play both from Virginia. However, the same login should work for both.

Further, you need to be at least 18 to play DFS in Virginia, while the sports betting age requirement in the state is 21 and up.

Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos allow players in states without legal online casinos to play their favorite games and win cash prizes. And because online casinos are only legal in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Michigan, this is the only option for most states across the US.

The two best sweepstakes casinos are Chumba Casino and LuckyLand. At both websites, you can redeem Sweeps Coins directly for cash prizes. This isn’t one of those free casino apps through Facebook where you can win entries to random drawings. At sweepstakes casinos, the more Sweeps Coins you win, the bigger your cash prize.

Sweepstakes casino games available at Chumba Casino include classic slots, video slots, progressive slots, blackjack, roulette, and video poker. The games at LuckyLand are also primarily slots, including progressive slots, but they also have some instant win scratchers similar to those offered through the Virginia Lottery app.

Sweepstakes Poker Sites

While there may be other sweepstakes poker sites out there, the only one you should join is Global Poker. Nowhere else can compete with their massive player pool or the win potential of their tournaments.

Everyone in all US states except for the State of Washington can play at Global Poker and face off against players in other states. The player pool also includes all of Canada except for Quebec.

The Global Poker setup is very similar to sites like World Series of Poker (WSOP) and PartyPoker. You can choose the type of game, like Texas Hold’em or Omaha. You can choose your budget, from micro to high. And you can play ring games, sit ‘n’ go, or multi-table tournaments.

Virginia Online Sportsbook FAQ

21. You must be at least 21 years old to bet at legal online sportsbooks in Virginia. When land-based casinos open in Virginia in 2022 and 2023, they will have retail sportsbooks where you can bet in person. However, the age requirement will be 21 at retail sportsbooks as well.

People in Virginia who are 18 years or older can bet at the Virginia Lottery online, at horse race betting sites, and through Daily Fantasy Sports platforms.

Not yet, but DraftKings Sportsbook is expected to be one of the first legal sports betting options in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery has not announced who has applied for a sportsbook license, but DraftKings is a safe assumption, as they’re available in almost all states with legal online sports betting.

When DraftKings Sportsbook does launch in Virginia, new members can receive a $25 free bet and a 20% deposit matching bonus up to $1,000.

Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook was the first to announced its launch in Virginia on January 21, 2021.

FanDuel independently tested a Virginia Lottery regulation that required real-time odds updates and proved that requirement wasn’t feasible. As such an active part of the legalization effort, it’s understandable that FanDuel was among the first to launch.

The FanDuel Virginia Sportsbook’s welcome bonus is a risk-free bet up to $1,000.

No, it is extremely unlikely that any legal online sportsbook in Virginia will offer a line of credit. There are some illegal websites that take bets on credit, but they require your personal financial information, including your social security number, which is why so many people in the US have their information stolen for this very reason. Chances are that the Virginia Lottery would consider bets on credit to be predatory and therefore illegal.

Yes, you can bet on college sports in Virginia. However, live in-game betting on college sports is prohibited. It is also illegal to place any type of bet on in-state college teams, such as Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, or William and Mary. Betting on these teams is strictly prohibited in the state. The only exception is for multi-team tournaments like March Madness, where you can bet on games even if a Virginia team is part of the larger tournament.

No, it is not required to register in-person at a land-based casino or sportsbook to bet at an online sportsbook in Virginia. Everything can be done remotely. In fact, you can join the sportsbook, make a deposit, and even withdraw from anywhere in the US. But you must be physically located within the Commonwealth of Virginia to place a sports bet at a Virginia online casino.

Virginia sports betting is here. The first online sports betting app in Virginia launched on January 21, 2021. FanDuel Virginia announced its presence in Virginia as the first sportsbook to debut. DraftKings, BetMGM, and BetRivers followed within days after. One week after that, William Hill launched in Virginia.

State lawmakers passed a package of bills legalizing sports betting in the Old Dominion in July 2020. Governor Ralph Northam’s signature on those bills capped off several years of efforts from legal gambling advocates in the state.

Virginia’s sports betting laws allow for up to 12 online sports betting operator licenses. These licenses to offer mobile sports betting will go to brands approved by the Virginia Lottery.

At least four of those licenses will function as strictly mobile sportsbooks, not tied into a partnership with a land-based casino.

The other licenses could see Virginia’s planned land-based casinos launch online sports betting. A November public vote approved the construction of casinos in four Virginia cities.

Virginia’s sports betting launch drew some of the industry’s biggest brands to the state.

Virginia Online Sportsbooks – Who is Live Now

William Hill Virginia

Visit: William Hill Sportsbook Virginia – Get up to a $2,021 risk free bet

Another sports betting brand with a natural tie-in to the Virginia market, William Hill operates as one of the most recognizable names in the industry. William Hill US offers both retail and mobile sports betting in many US states.

Caesars Entertainment, the parent company to William Hill, is expected to construct a land-based casino in one of Virginia’s four voter-approved cities. That property is a virtual lock to include a land-based version of William Hill Sportsbook. For online bettors that means a William Hill sportsbook app that can be used anywhere in the Commonwealth.

FanDuel Virginia Sportsbook

Visit: FanDuel Sportsbook Virginia – Get up to $1000 risk free bet

Like its biggest rival, DraftKings, FanDuel is one of the brands leading the charge in the US mobile sports betting boom. The company expanded from fantasy sports into sports betting and online casino gaming over the last two years, becoming one of the biggest sports wagering brands in the US in the process.

FanDuel operates an online sportsbook in almost a dozen states. The FanDuel launch in Virginia happened just a day before its launch in Michigan.

FanDuel teams with land-based casinos to offer online sports betting in most states. Virginia laws allow FanDuel Sportsbook to operate with a casino license partner, or as an online-only app. In the end, FanDuel partnered with the Washington Football Team, which plays in Maryland but is headquartered in Virginia. This partnership allowed it a leg up in launch order over other sportsbooks who will most likely have online-only licenses.

Regardless of licensing, the first bet was placed on FanDuel Virginia on January 21, 2021, a momentous day for Virginia bettors.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Visit: BetMGM Virginia – Claim up to $600 risk free bet

BetMGM is one of the top online gambling apps in the country. With its online casino app launched in a few states, the BetMGM Sportsbook app is available in even more states. Backed by the world-renown gaming brand BetMGM, the sportsbook app offers strong odds and a wide variety of sports for Virginia bettors. The app is strong, with good reviews for being relatively glitch-free.

BetMGM was one of the first sportsbook apps to launch in Virginia. It also announced a partnership with hometown favorites the Washington Nationals and will eventually open a retail sportsbook at Nationals Park in DC.

BetRivers Sportsbook

Visit: BetRivers Virginia – Claim a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250

The BetRivers name comes from the Rivers Casino brand, owned by Rush Street Interactive. BetRivers isn’t just limited to states that host a land-based Rivers Casino property, however.

The BetRivers online sportsbook and casino app operates in several states. Within a week they launched in both Virginia and Michigan. Rush Street Interactive is expected to open a land-based casino in Virginia, but the BetRivers online sportsbook beat it to market.

BetRivers has proven a worthy competitor in the legal online sports betting market across the US and could be one of the most popular platforms in the Virginia market.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Visit: Draftkings Sportsbook Virginia – Get a $1,000 deposit bonus (20% up to $1,000)

DraftKings Sportsbook launched its mobile app in Virginia on January 24, 2021. Since expanding into sports betting in 2018, DraftKings has emerged as one of the biggest brands in the legal US sports wagering market.

DraftKings Sportsbook offers legal wagering in eleven states. The platform offers one of the most robust menus of sports and ways to bet on any mobile sportsbook in the US market. They also offer one of the strongest apps for both Apple and Android devices.

Virginia’s Online Sportsbooks: What Brands Are On The Way?

Virginia received 25 license applications in 2020, with only 12 online-only licenses available. The Virginia Lottery was tight-lipped about who applied. Local news has reported that some of the potential Virginia sports betting apps could be from BetMGM, WynnBet, or Barstool.

In the end, the first four apps to launch in Virginia were FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, and BetMGM. William Hill followed a week later. Moreover, both WynnBet and Barstoool Sportsbook don’t have the same kind of history of being the first to launch in various states, but were among the first apps to launch in Michigan on January 22, 2021, the day after the Virginia launch. It is possible we will see both brands in Virginia in the future as both have strong growth plans for the US betting market.

Guide To Online Sports Betting In Virginia

Bonuses Available At Online Sportsbooks

The launch of online sports betting in Virginia marks the start of an industry that should offer a dozen different online sportsbooks at some point.

Each of the different platforms on the way to Virginia will offer welcome bonuses for new players. Some of the most common welcome offers seen at legal online sportsbooks include the following:

Deposit Match Bonuses

A deposit match bonus takes your first deposit at an online sportsbook and matches a percentage of it with bonus betting credits.

At BetRivers, for example, new players get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250. With this bonus, you’ll earn bonus betting credits equal to the amount of your first deposit, up to $250.

Risk-Free Bets

A risk-free bet offers a rebate on your first bet (or sometimes multiple bets) made at a mobile sportsbook. The rebate is only awarded if the bet you apply the bonus to results in a loss.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, for instance, new players can enjoy a risk-free bet up to $1,000 after making an initial deposit. That offer allows you to make your first bet, up to $1,000, with no risk of losing.

No-Deposit Bonuses

A no-deposit bonus represents the most player-friendly offer of any welcome promotion on this list. This kind of bonus simply puts free betting credits in your player balance, just for signing up at a sportsbook.

Virginia’s Local Sports Teams

Virginia doesn’t host any teams from the four major US sports leagues, but it’s proximity to Washington DC makes the Old Dominion State one of the most passionate professional sports fan bases in the US.

All major domestic sports are open for betting at Virginia’s online sportsbooks. This includes professional sports teams in both Washington DC and Maryland, such as the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles.

Wagering on Virginia’s college programs, however, isn’t permitted under Virginia’s sports betting laws. College programs like the Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies will not appear on the menus of Virginia’s mobile sportsbooks.

Even without having local in-state teams, Virginia bettors are able to bet on all major domestic and international sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, and March Madness. Although Virginia bettors are prohibited from betting on Virginia college teams playing in March Madness, they can bet on the Hoyas and the Terrapins. The same goes for NCAA championship games.

Washington DC Pro Sports Teams

Football represents the most popular sport for wagering in the US. The Washington Football Team enjoys a rabid fanbase in Virginia, backed up by three Super Bowl Championships and 24 playoff appearances in its nearly century-long history.

FanDuel partnered with the Washington Football team to launch the FanDuel Virginia app. It is expected the Washington Football Team will promote the FanDuel site. It is also rumored that this partnership was a sign of goodwill on behalf of the team as they consider a potential move to Virginia.

The Washington Nationals of MLB brought a World Series championship to Washington DC in 2019. Since moving to the District of Colombia from Montreal in 2005, the Nationals stand as one of Virginia’s favorite sports franchises. The Nationals partnered with BetMGM, who will eventually open a retail sportsbook at the Nationals Stadium in DC.

The NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals round out the lineup of Washington DC sports franchises. The nation’s capital is one of the few cities in the US with a team in all four major sports leagues.

Is Esports Betting Legal In Virginia?

The legal status of betting on esports varies significantly from state to state. Several states with legalized sports wagering don’t offer specific language on esports wagering in their sports betting bills.

Virginia’s sports betting laws, however, do permit betting on esports. Esports are rapidly growing in popularity for both spectators and bettors, and Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks are permitted to offer wagering on esports contests.

Sports Betting: Legal Versus Illegal

With up to a dozen legal online sportsbooks set to enter the Virginia market, illegal bookies and offshore gambling sites now take a backseat to their regulated, legal counterparts.

Virginia’s online sportsbooks operate under the regulation of the Virginia Lottery, a state-level government agency. The Virginia Lottery’s role in the state’s sports wagering industry is to ensure fair practice, prompt payouts, and a secure player experience from Virginia’s mobile sports betting products.

All approved online sportsbooks in Virginia bear the seal of approval from the Virginia Lottery. The sure way to tell that you’re playing at a state-regulated, legal sportsbook is to look for this mark on the homepage of a mobile sports betting website.

Drawbacks Of Illegal Bookmakers

Offshore betting platforms, on the other hand, won’t display the seal of approval from the Virginia Lottery or any other US gaming regulation agency. Offshore sites often function without having to answer to any gaming regulatory body.

With this in mind, it’s important to understand that offshore betting sites have no legal obligation to pay your winning when you try to cash out. When you deposit at an offshore sportsbook, you might never see that money again.

Legal sportsbooks, on the other hand, must provide prompt and fair payouts under Virginia law. In states with legal online sports betting, wagering at mobile sportsbooks provided the same level of security as playing at a legal land-based casino.

How Do I Know That Online Sportsbooks Are Fair?

Regulated By The Virginia Lottery

All states with legalized gambling operate with one or more government regulatory agencies in place. Virginia’s upcoming sportsbooks will fall under the oversight of the Virginia Lottery.

Virginia becomes one of several states in which the state lottery regulates all aspects of legal gambling within the state. Other states using this setup include West Virginia and Delaware.

The Virginia Lottery launched in 1988, and functions as a state-level government gaming agency. When sports betting eventually goes live in Virginia, players can wager knowing that state-regulated sportsbooks are overseen and regularly audited by the Virginia Lottery.

Why Can I Trust Legal Online Sportsbooks?

The launch of legal sports betting brings the world’s top sportsbook brands to the Virginia market. Multi-billion-dollar companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM will all compete for a piece of what will likely become a flourishing mobile sports betting market.

Other brands likely to operate in Virginia include William Hill, PointsBet, FOX Bet, and several others. All of these companies operate in multiple states and in some cases overseas.

As such, these legal sports betting brands conduct business as some of the most trusted companies in the legal gambling industry. Brands like DraftKings and FanDuel function with a keen interest in upholding their reputations as the world’s most trusted sports betting brands.

Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks use the highest level of security measures to protect player funds and personal information. Anything less could result in a major loss of trust for these giants in the legal gambling sphere.

How Do Online Sportsbooks Pay Me If I Win?

Virginia’s online sports betting platforms offer several convenient ways to cash out from your account. Registering for an account, depositing funds, wagering on sports, and withdrawing after you win can all be accomplished remotely.

Withdrawal methods include options like ACH/eCheck and online bank transfer, each of which involves a direct transaction from your player balance to your bank account. Most major banks facilitate transactions to and from legal sportsbooks.

PayPal presents one of the most secure options for both deposits and withdrawals. Many online sportsbooks offer a house-branded version of the Play+ Prepaid card, which links directly to your mobile sportsbook account.

Virginia Sports Betting Launch Date

Other withdrawal options include Skrill, wire transfer, and even (as a last resort) check by mail. Most of these options take 2-5 business days for the money to appear in your bank account.

Virginia Mobile Sports Betting FAQ

All major domestic and international professional sports can legally be wagered on from Virginia’s legal online sportsbooks. The selection of leagues might vary across different brands, but Virginia law allows mobile sportsbooks to offer all professional sports leagues.

Betting on Virginia-based college programs, however, is prohibited. State laws restrict wagering on programs like the Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies.

Virginia Sports Betting Draftkings

Yes, but betting on Virginia’s college programs is illegal. You won’t find any available betting markets for in-state programs at Virginia’s legal mobile sportsbooks.

Betting on all other college sports teams is legal, however. The only exceptions to this are in-game betting and player prop bets on college contests, which are illegal under state law.

Yes. The package of bills outlining Virginia’s sports betting regulations contain language allowing esports wagering.

Virginia’s sportsbooks can choose whether or not to include esports as available betting markets. The undeniable popularity of esports makes it highly likely that Virginia’s sportsbooks will offer esports markets.

15%. All Virginia sportsbooks, both online and land-based, will have revenue taxed at 15% from the state. Potential operators will also pay a $250,000 licensing fee every three years. These tax rates only apply to sportsbook operators. Sports bettors also need to pay both Federal and state tax on any winnings, in accordance with tax laws.

The Virginia Lottery will approve up to 12 sportsbook operators. Four of those licenses will go to online-only operators, not connected to any land-based casino.

All other licenses can be applied for by land-based casinos and racetracks, or by other online-only operators. This is how several sports betting apps launched prior to any casino opening in Virginia.

Yes. DraftKings was the second sportsbook app to launch in Virginia. It is licensed by the Virginia lottery to operate mobile apps for both Apple and Android and a web browser.

Virginia Sports Betting Start

Yes. FanDuel was the first Virginia sportsbook to announce its debut in the Commonwealth. FanDuel Sportsbook maintains a presence in virtually every legal mobile sports betting market in the US. Virginia was the next logical step in FanDuel’s expansion efforts.