Virginia Sports Betting 2023 – Everything You Need to Know

Sports betting in Virgina is one of the best wagering experiences in the country, thanks to the plethora of sportsbooks available across the state. So far, 16 different online sportsbooks have launched and this number will only get bigger as time goes on. We’ve put together helpful information on the best welcome bonuses, sites, apps, features and promos in Virginia here.

With such a large pool of sportsbooks to choose from, it can be difficult to find the best platform for you. This is why we’ve gone through the top sites and apps in the state, so you can find the best sports betting experience in Virginia for you.

Sports Betting Sites, Apps & Promos in Virginia

Is Sports Betting Legal in Virginia?

Yes, sports betting has been legal in Virginia since April 2020. However, no sportsbooks launched until January 2021. Virginia was an online-only sportsbook state until July 2022, when the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened its doors to retail players and became the first in-person sports betting facility. To this day, the vast majorty of sportsbooks are only available online in the Old Dominion.

Can I Bet on College Sports?

Yes, you can bet on college sports in Virginia. However, residents are not allowed to wager on a game that involves a college team from Virginia. This means you won’t be able to bet on teams from Virginia Tech and the 13 other universities in the state. Additionally, prop betting is not allowed on college sports.

Can I Bet on Horse Racing?

Yes, you can bet on horse racing in Virginia. There are multiple tracks that offer parimutuel betting on these events. There are also a number of ways to bet on the horses online. For example, DraftKings recently launched a horse racing app in the state.

Can I Bet on Politics?

No, you can’t bet on politics in Virginia. This isn’t specific to certain states. In all 50 states it’s illegal to bet on the outcome of elections as this is prohibited by federal law.

Best Virginia Sportsbooks – June 2023

BETMGM – They’re not dubbed the “king of sportsbooks” for no reason. BETMGM has consistently provided an enticing experience for bettors by offering great features such as competitive odds and high quality live streaming options on several sports.

They launched in Virginia in January 2021 and have some of the highest reviews around. There are few faults to find in their site or app. Add all of this to a superb $1,000 bonus bet for signing up and you have a winnining combination! If you’re thinking of only using one sportsbook then you must try them out.

Caesars Sportsbook – They’re the only sportsbook in the US that streams NFL games. This means Caesars is a betting favorite with football fans in Virginia. They also offer a great rewards program where users can earn bet credits, no matter whether they win or lose wagers.

This sportsbook gets its name from the world famous resort in Las Vegas, a city known for it’s avid sports betting scene. This is one of the many reasons that Caesars Sportsbook is so highly rated, they’re experts in their field and they know exactly what bettors are after thanks to decades of them flocking to their resorts. They have a beautiful design on both their site and app that makes it incredibly easy to use, no matter whether you’re a beginner or a long time bettor. They have the biggest welcome bonus in Virginia and you can get up to $1,250 when you sign up now!

DraftKings – After becoming the best fantasy sports platform in the US, DraftKings is on a similar trajectory with their sportsbook. They offer a huge range of sports to bet on with a whoppin 29 to choose from! They also have a quick acting customer support team, great rewards with DK dollars, brilliant odds overall it’s an incredibly smooth user experience.

One of the best features they have is their daily prize pools. Sometimes you can win a share of up to $50,000. They are also the only sportsbook where bonus bets don’t expire. This is because they use DK dollars, a virtual currency that never runs out. You can use these DK dollars to wager on sporting events and then win real money that can be withdrawn to your real life bank account. DraftKings is a very immersive and fun sportsbook and we highly recommend using them!

BetRivers – If you’re looking to take part in promos all the time, then BetRivers is the place for you! They regularly offer profits boosts, parlay insurance and host a range of great interactive promos where you can win bonus bets and other rewards by engaging with the platform.

They especially excel when it comes to their site, they have received huge compliments on the way it works and they even have a live newsfeed where you can see the latest wins by other bettors. If you’re a fan of betting on a big screen, then we highly suggest using BetRivers.

WynnBET – The Wynn hotel in Las Vegas created their own sportsbook that is now available in 8 US states, including Virginia. Bettors can enjoy an easy to use platform that caters to all needs at WynnBET.

FanDuel – You can also win huge prizes every day with FanDuel thanks to their daily prize pools too. They were the very first sportsbook to open in Virginia when sports betting launched in 2021. They had a complete monopoly on the market for a total of 3 days until more started to open. Since then, they’ve become one of the highest rated sportsbook platforms in the entire state.

PointsBet – This Australian born sportsbook is making waves in the US and has even inked a deal with NBC Sports until 2027. PointsBet offers unique bets, meaning users can request a dream bet that isn’t on their site or app. They also have a points based rewards system where users can access a range of free bets. This means that you can earn something on all your bets, no matter the outcome.

Betway – This sportsbook offers great profit boosts on NFL parlays and has great betting options for international sports such as European soccer. Betway is a must use sportsbook.

UniBet – If you’re looking for less well known sports to bet on then Unibet has you covered with their wide range of betting markets.

Sports Betting News in Virginia

May 23rd – PointsBet have agreed to sell their US operations to Fanatics for $150 million.

May 1st – The total sports betting handle for March was the best of the year so far as it hit a total of $511 million.

April 1st – The total sports betting handle in Virginia dropped by 15% in February from the previous month.

March 3rd – The Virginia Lottery awarded Betr a permit to provide online sports betting to the state. They’ll become the 15th online sportsbook in Virginia when they launch.

February 10th – Reports from December show Virginia’s sports betting handle for the month was just over $500 million.

Who Can Bet on Sports in Virginia?

You must at least 21 years old in order to wager on sporting events. Additionally, although you don’t have to be a Virginia resident, you must be inside state lines when you place a bet. This means that if you live a nearby state such as Maryland or even DC, you can bet on sports when you visit Virginia. As long as you meet these requirements, you will be able to wager as much as you like in the state.

Where Can I Bet on Sports in Virginia?

Virginia is a unique state when it comes to sports betting as the industry is predominately online. This means that while you can go to any of the 2 in-person casinos that are partnered with a sportsbook in order to wager, the majority of sports betting is done online via sites and mobile apps. Here is a complete list of each of the 15 retail and online sportsbooks that are operational in Virginia, along with the chronological order of when they launched.

Sportsbook	Virginia Launch Date
FanDuel	January 21st 2021
DraftKings	January 24th 2021
BETMGM	January 27th 2021
BetRivers (Retail & Online)	January 27th 2021
Caesars	February 3rd 2021
WynnBET	March 11th 2021
Unibet	April 28th 2021
Barstool	August 10th 2021
Bally Bet	November 24th 2021
PointsBet	December 15th 2022
HardRock (Retail & Online)	March 31st 2022
Sports Illustrated	May 9th 2022
Betway	May 18th 2022
Bet365	January 31st 2023
Betfred	February 1st 2023

Sportsbooks Launching Soon in Virginia

Virginia law currently allows a total of 18 sportsbooks to get licenses. So far, 16 online sportsbooks have been awarded licenses, with 15 of them already having launched in the state. This means that as of now, only 2 more licenses can be granted. However, the law around this may change in the future to accomodate more. Here are the sportsbooks that will be launching in the near future:

Betr – After finding success in Ohio, one of the newest sportsbooks in the country will soon be launching in Virginia, after they received their sports betting license in March 2023.

Who Regulates Virginia Sports Betting?

The Virginia Lottery regulates and oversees sports betting in the state. They are also in charge of reviewing sportsbook applications and granting licenses. So far they have awarded 16 licenses out of a total 18 to sportsbooks. These companies have to go through intense regulatory scrutiny and auditing processes before they can qualify as an entity that can receive a license. This is great as it protects bettors in Virginia by making sure that all sportsbooks are safe and secure to use by being financially competent and trustworthy enough to be able to handle tens of millions of dollars in sports handle.

What to Look for When Choosing a Sportsbook in Virginia

If after looking at our rankings, you’re still unsure about which sportsbook to use in Virginia, take the following factors into consideration.

• Odds – Are the odds among the best in the industry?
• Updates – When errors and bugs pop up, do they get rid of them swiftly?
• Support – Do they have round the clock helpful customer service?
• Reviews – Does the brand have positive reviews from users?
• Markets – Are there a wide range of sports markets available to bet on?
• Promotions – Do they consistently offer plenty of promotions?
• Withdrawals – Can money be withdrawn quickly via multiple methods?

Sports Teams to Bet on in Virginia

Unfortunately, Virginia is one of the few states in the country that doesn’t have a major league sports team. This means that most bettors in the state support nearby teams in neighboring states like Maryland, DC and North Carolina.

Here are the most popular sports teams that are bet on in Virginia.

How to Use a Sportsbook in Virginia

It’s a very simple process to begin using a sportsbook. This is because they want to make it as easy as possible for new users to sign up, deposit and wager on their platform. 

Follow these five steps to start betting on sportsbooks in Virginia now:

1. Claim Bonus – Once you’ve decided which sportsbooks you’d like to use, press the “Claim Bonus” button next to their logo in the section above.
2. Sign Up – You will be taken to a page where you will need to complete a registration form, in order to sign up for the sportsbook.
3. Deposit – After your sportsbook account has been created, you will need to deposit money into it. Usually a minimum amount will be required. This is usually anywhere between $5 and $20 depending on the sportsbook.
4. Wager – Once your account has been credited, you can now start wagering on any sporting event you wish. By doing this you will become eligible for any welcome bonus that is on offer at the sportsbook you’re using. Usually these bonuses will be granted automatically to your account if your first bet loses.
5. Withdraw – After you’ve finished betting and if you’re lucky enough to make money, this can be withdrawn. You can effectively send your balance from your sportsbook account to your bank account via a bank transfer as well as a number of other payment methods.

How Much Money is Wagered in Virginia?

During the first quarter of 2023, Virginia had a sports handle (total amount in wagers) of $1.45 billion. This equated to sportsbooks having revenues of $136.7 million across the same period. This means that the state will receive around $18 million in taxes from sports betting alone just from the first 3 months of the year. Sports betting is extremely popular in Virginia and each year more and more residents take part in wagering on their favorite games.

Sports Betting Taxes in Virginia for 2023

Like many states, Virginia classes winnings from sports betting and other forms of gambling as income. This means that if you make any money from wagering on sports, it will be liable for state income tax. If your annual income is more than $17,001, you will pay the highest level of state income tax. Due to the threshold being such a low amount, the majority of Virginia residents that take part in sports betting are in this bracket.

Here is the full list of all the income brackets in the state along with how much tax you will need to pay. Keep in mind that winnings will also have federal tax charged on them, as well as Virginia state tax.

Annual Income	Tax Rate
$3,000 or less	2%
$3,001 – $5,000	$60 plus 3%
$5,000 – $17,000	$120 plus 5%
$17,001 and higher	$720 plus 5.75%

Timeline of Sports Betting in Virginia

Here’s a rundown of the key events that took place over the past 6 years that ultimately shaped the legality and regulation of sports betting in Virgina.

2018

In May, The Supreme Court delivered a 6-3 ruling and struck down a federal law from 1992, that was prohibiting sports betting in most states. This decision cleared the way for sports betting to become legal throughout the US.

2019

Lawmakers in Virginia brought up the topic of sports betting during a legislative session. Due to lack of support, they would end up creating a bill that studied the economics of sports betting in the state.

2020

After the study bill showed great potential for economic opportunity in the state, much more support was given by lawmakers to pass relevant bills that would legalize sports betting in Virginia.

2021

Sports betting launches in Virginia one day after Joe Biden is inaugurated as president. The state began as one of two that only had online sportsbooks and no retail sportsbooks. BETMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and BetRivers all launched during the first two weeks.

2022

Virginia handled more than $3.2 billion in sports bets over the course of the first twelve months. 3 more online sportsbooks would launch in 2022. The first retail sportsbook in the state launched in July when Hard Rock opened their casino.

2023

It was announced in January that for the previous year, the state saw a total of $4.9 billion in sports betting handle. This was an increase of $1.7 billion from 2021. There are only a few online sportsbook licenses left to be granted. Betr is the most recent one to be awarded the right to launch in Virginia and will be rolling out their platform soon.

Sports Betting in DC & Maryland

One of the biggest differences when it comes to sports betting in Virginia and sports betting in DC and Maryland is the abundance of sportsbooks that each area has to offer to the public. Virginia has double the amount of operational sportsbooks than the likes of Maryland and four times the amount that DC has.

DC Sports Betting

Maryland Sports Betting

Other Gambling in Virginia

If you’re looking for something other than sports betting, here are other types of gambling and if you’re allowed to partake in them in the state of Virginia.

Casino & Poker

Online casinos are currently illegal in Virginia. However, in 2020 they did pass a law that allows residents to wager in person at casinos. Granted, there are only a handful of these casinos available as of now. In the future online casinos may become legal in Virginia.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Virginia was the first state in the US to legalize DFS back in 2016. DraftKings and FanDuel offer the best platforms around and bettors in the state can use them if they want to partake in daily fantasy sports.

Conclusion

Overall Virginia has a huge line up of sportsbooks to choose from and is a state that hosts one of the best sports betting experiences in the entire country. Although it’s a predominately online industry, users can access a vast range of features. You can sign up and claim the welcome bonus of every single sportsbook in the state. Scroll up and claim your bonuses now.

Virginia Sports Betting FAQs

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