Last Updated May 13, 2022, 03:57 PM ET
Virginia sports betting law allows bettors to register and place wagers with their mobile devices anywhere in the state. Welcome bonuses of more than $1,000 attract new users to U.S. betting sites like Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
Virginia, a historically conservative gambling state, surprised some when it legalized sports betting early in 2020. While there are no casinos or brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state, 12 sportsbooks operate online in the Old Dominion — with more on the way.
Covers has leaned on its 26 years of sports betting expertise to bring you a list of top sports betting sites in Virginia.
Caesars came to Virginia shortly after legal sports betting was authorized. The result: Caesars Sportsbook stands as the best sportsbook in the Old Dominion, courtesy of its player-first sign-up bonus, excellent mobile app, and favorable odds boosts.
Promo code COVERSCZR unlocks access to $1,100 first-bet insurance for newly registered Caesars VA sports bettors. If you come up short with the initial wager, Caesars will credit your account with a free bet of up to $1,100.
Caesars Sportsbook holds its own for the best sports betting apps in 2022. The user-friendly mobile app, available free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, boasts a minimalist design and convenient mobile banking. Its live betting platform functions better than most and putting together same-game parlays counts among the most accessible actions.
Caesars doesn't disappoint when it comes to competitive odds and betting lines. We shopped pricing for several marquee matchups and found that Caesars VA hit the mark.
All new account activations and real money deposits include automatic enrollment in the popular Caesars Rewards program. VA sports bettors also gain 24/7 support via its intuitive customer service live chat feature.
Discover everything you need to know about Caesars VA in our Caesars Sportsbook review.
Virginia sports betting sites continue to offer new users attractive welcome offers in 2022. While not all sign-up bonuses are worth the hype, the following betting promos are definitely worth a look in the Old Dominion:
FanDuel - $1,000 Risk-Free Bet: Virginians new to FanDuel can get started with a risk-free wager of up to $1,000. FanDuel VA will refund the full amount if you don’t win your first bet. If you do win, you keep the cash.
Caesars Sportsbook - Up to $1,100 in First Bet Insurance: Caesars Sportsbook Virginia will return your first bet — if you lose — up to $1,100, giving you a second chance to hit on your initial wager. Use promo code COVERSCZR to claim this offer.
BetMGM - $1,000 Risk-Free Bet: Virginia sports bettors can claim yet another risk-free bet with the King of Sportsbooks. If you lose your first wager, BetMGM VA will refund the full amount in the form of site credit.
PointsBet - $500 Risk-Free Bet: PointsBet Virginia is allowing bettors to wager up to $500 risk-free, refunding the full amount in site credit should the first bet lose.
Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses and promotional offers.
$1,100 in first bet insurance
COVERSCZR
The $1,100 in first bet insurance sign-up bonus that Caesars Virginia offers its new users is the largest maximum amount provided by any sportsbook in the state. Should a user register, make a deposit, and place a first wager that flops, Caesars Sportsbook will refund their account with an amount equal to what was bet, up to $1,100. That return appears as a free bet that can be used to wager again. Beyond its promo for first-time bettors, the sportsbook also delivers an excellent customer support service and a sensational rewards program.
Refer to our Caesars Sportsbook Review for any other information you may be seeking.
$500 risk-free bet up
No code required
A sports betting staple in Australia that’s nestled itself into the thick of the U.S. market, PointsBet Virginia offers users everything one could ask for in a sportsbook. But the experienced operator really finds its footing via a cornucopia of special features, such as its well-known Points Betting bet type — which provides users with the chance to win more or less depending on the accuracy of their wagers — regularly boosted parlays, and its “Karma Kommittee.”
Find out all you need to know through our detailed PointsBet Review.
$1,000 risk-free bet
No code required
FanDuel Virginia had the honor of taking the state’s first legal sports bet on Jan. 21, 2021, and since then has promptly seated itself at the forefront of the best sportsbooks in the Old Dominion. Through its industry-leading welcome bonus, quality bet types, constant promotions, and more, FanDuel has become one of the world’s most recognizable sports betting brands. No matter if you’re a novice or seasoned bettor, FanDuel Virginia will provide you with a worthwhile experience.
Be sure to take a look at our FanDuel Review for more information.
Deposit match up to $1,000
No code required
DraftKings is one of the most famous names sports betting, so it should be no surprise to find it listed here as one of Virginia’s top options. Not only are the operator’s online and mobile platforms simple while looking smooth, but they also work just as well, making navigation and placing bets a breeze. With plentiful sports markets to choose from, bonuses and promos to discover, and one of the industry’s more reliable payout systems, DraftKings Virginia won’t be leaving this list anytime soon.
Take a look at our DraftKings Review to discover what you need to know about DraftKings Virginia.
$250 deposit match
250MATCH
While you won’t find BetRivers talked about nearly as much as some of its top-tier counterparts, the operator offers Virginia bettors a sportsbook experience worth looking into. In particular, BetRivers is adept at gratifying its active customers, supplying recurring free bets, boosted odds, and an iRush rewards program. BetRivers also has a mobile app that’s simplistic but intuitive, allowing it to plant its feet firmly next to the likes of DraftKings and PointsBet.
Our in-depth BetRivers Review will have all other details you may need.
For placing a sports bet, it doesn’t get much easier for Virginians. It’s as simple as visiting an online sportsbook website or downloading an app to a mobile device. Players will be able to visit a physical sportsbook to place wagers in the future as well.
The first step is to check out the online sportsbooks that are currently available in Virginia. These platforms can offer various sign-up bonuses, betting lines, and levels of customer support. Visit a few sportsbooks websites and read over their terms and conditions before getting started.
Registration can be completed rather quickly in Virginia. Fill in some personal details, including the last four digits of your SSN, and you’ll be in pole position to place your first sports bet.
The Virginia sports betting scene is an open competitive marketplace — with bettors reaping the benefits. To gain an edge, sportsbooks reel in gamblers with attractive promotional offers to get them started on their sports betting journey.
Virginia sports bettors can expect to find:
All of the favorite bet types can be found in Virginia. We've shared the most popular and provided an overview of each:
Picking an outright winner in sports betting parlance is called the moneyline, and it is a favorite bet type for new sports bettors.
In the case of Over/Unders (totals), you are determining whether the combined score will match the expected number set by the oddsmakers.
Oddsmakers introduce the point spread to level the playing. This is due to the fact that the skill level between teams differed. Sports bettors can think of it as the great equalizer.
Parlays tie multiple bets together, and since all the wagers involved must win for the parlay to pay out, the risk is much higher than a single-game bet.
Each of the most common payment options is available in Virginia. Debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and e-wallets are valid options to transfer funds to a sports betting account.
Transaction fees may accompany these deposits, so be sure to read the fine print before confirming funds transfer.
Once you’ve explored all your chosen sportsbook has to offer, it’s time to start betting. Line shopping, like finding the best NFL odds for your bet, is always recommended, and it may be beneficial to open accounts with multiple sportsbooks to ensure you’re quickly able to place the most favorable bets.
Withdrawals can be made in many of the same ways players can make deposits. Depending on the method chosen to make a withdrawal, funds may be available in a timely fashion or take a couple of days to appear in your account.
American odds will be shown as the default option for most sportsbooks in Virginia. Also known as moneyline odds, American odds indicate favorites and underdogs with a minus sign (-) and plus sign (+), respectively.
The number next to the minus sign tells bettors how much they’ll need to wager in order to win $100. The number next to the plus sign implies the amount that will be won when placing a $100 bet.
For example, -110 odds indicate $110 needs to be made to win $100 in profit. Meanwhile, +180 odds show that $180 will be won with a $100 wager.
Decimal and fractions odds can also be used to display the same potential winnings. Our odds converter can be used to switch between all three betting odds formats.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Virginia. After a number of revisions in the Virginia State Legislature, bills were signed into law on April 29, 2020, by Gov. Ralph Northam.
Follow each state's path to legalized sports betting via our legal tracker.
In March 2020, the Virginia General Assembly and Senate passed SB 384 and HB 896 which brought legal sports betting to the Old Dominion. Gov. Ralph Northam relaid amended versions of the two bills to lawmakers, who then approved them in a reconvened session that authorized sports betting in Virginia.
Follow a timeline of Virginia's sports gambling history:
April 28, 2022: SI Sportsbook was set to launch Wednesday, April 27, but Google Play did not authorize its app prompting further delays. Meanwhile, Betway expects to come online on May 18.
April 11, 2022: State lawmakers decree that as of July 1, 2022, gaming entities operating in Virginia will be prohibited from using the phrase, 'Virginia is for bettors,' in any marketing materials.
March 31, 2022: Hard Rock Sportsbook officially launches its app in Virginia, becoming the state's 12th active mobile sportsbook.
March 2, 2022: Virginia registers a single-month sports betting handle record of $485.5 million for January 2022.
Feb. 25, 2022: Virginia lawmakers in the House of Representatives nixed HB 1127, which would have permitted betting on in-state college sports teams.
Feb. 15, 2022: The Senate passes a bill (SB 576) that would allow for wagering on in-state collegiate teams. It heads to the House, where HB 1127 was voided earlier in the year.
Jan. 13, 2022: Delegate Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D) introduces HB 1127. The proposed bill seeks to allow betting on Virginia college sports.
Jan. 11, 2022: Two bills — HJR 63 and SJR 24 — are introduced with the aim of forming a new gaming commission to oversee and regulate all sports betting in Virginia.
Jan. 4, 2022: Figures released by the Virginia Lottery reveal record tax revenues nearing $50 million for November 2021.
Dec. 15, 2021: PointsBet becomes the 11th legal sportsbook to launch in Virginia.
Dec. 2, 2021: The Old Dominion has a record-setting sports betting handle for October, taking in $427.3 million in wagers.
Dec. 1, 2021: 88 Holdings PLC was awarded a provisional sports-betting license by the Virginia Lottery.
Nov. 25, 2021: VHL, VA (SI Sportsbook) is given the 13th sports betting license in VA.
Nov. 24, 2021: The Virginia Lottery hands Digital Gaming Corporation (Betway) a temporary sports betting license.
Nov. 22, 2021: The Virginia Lottery grants Colonial Downs approval to begin offering mobile sports betting through its partnership with PointsBet.
Nov. 2, 2021: Richmond voters reject the proposal for Urban One Inc.'s ONE Casino + Resort.
Oct. 13, 2021: Golden Nugget Online, which was one of three operators approved in March 2021, launches to become the state's ninth mobile sportsbook.
Aug. 10, 2021: Barstool Sportsbook, the Penn National Gaming-owned property, becomes the state's eighth mobile sportsbook.
January 2021: Fully online sports betting goes live in Virginia as FanDuel takes the state’s first legal sports bet on January 21.
November 2020: Official plans for four casinos and retail sportsbooks commence as referendums are passed in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.
April 2020: Lawmakers approve Governor Northam’s final changes to SB 384 and HB 896, officially legalizing sports betting in Virginia.
November 2019: The commissioned study estimates massive early returns and mature sports betting market netting the state upwards of $400 million in annual revenue. A bill is then introduced by Virginia Delegate Mark Sickles, laying the groundwork for regulated sports betting in the state.
March 2019: The Virginia Senate commissions a study of sports betting in other states with the aim of estimating annual revenue for the Commonwealth if they were to regulate sports betting themselves.
There are currently 12 legal online sportsbooks operating in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery issued three additional licenses in November 2021, but two of these operators — Betway and SI Sportsbook — have yet to launch.
PointsBet, together with Colonial Downs, was granted the state's 11th license on Nov. 22, 2021, and launched on Dec. 15. Betway and SI Sportsbook were given access to the VA market just days later. On Dec. 1, 2021, the Virginia Lottery gave the go-ahead for 888 Holdings to launch its online sportsbook in 2022.
As for retail sportsbooks, they're coming, but there’s no legal way to place a physical or in-person bet in Virginia in 2022.
| Online sportsbook | Mobile app | Odds provider | Online casino | Retail partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bally Bet  | Yes | Bet.Works | No | N/A |
| Barstool | Yes | Kambi | No | N/A |
| BetMGM | Yes | BetMGM | No | N/A |
| BetRivers | Yes | Kambi | No | N/A |
| Caesars | Yes | Caesars | No | N/A |
| DraftKings | Yes | Kambi | No | N/A |
| FanDuel | Yes | Flutter | No | N/A |
| Golden Nugget | Yes | SBTech | No | N/A |
| Hard Rock | Yes | GiG | No | N/A |
| PointsBet | Yes | PointsBet | No | N/A |
| Unibet | Yes | Kambi | No | N/A |
| WynnBET | Yes | GAN | No | N/A |
Adults 21 and over who have access to a mobile device or computer may place a legal sports bet in Virginia. Registration can be completed from anywhere in the state, so players can get started at home or at their favorite bar.
Keep reading to learn about how to place your first sports bet in the Old Dominion.
Legal ageYou must be at least 21 to place a sports wager in Virginia.
Mobile bettingVirginia sports bets can be placed by using a computer or mobile device to access an online sportsbook or sportsbook app. The Virginia Lottery regulates all sports betting activity in Virginia.
Remote registrationRemote registration allows Virginia bettors to create an account with an online sportsbook and place their first bet from anywhere in the state.
Within state bordersGeolocation technology is used by all online sportsbooks in Virginia to confirm your location within the state. While you don’t need to reside in Virginia to place a bet, you will be required to enable location services to prove you’ve got both feet on the ground in the Old Dominion.
Retail sportsbooksNo retail sportsbooks operate within Virginia. Lawmakers have already approved up to five new casinos, and plans are already in motion to begin constructing casinos in four Virginia cities: Bristol, Danville, Northfolk, and Portsmouth. Each casino is forecasted to house its sportsbook. Until then, sports betting remains online-only.
Taxable winningsVirginia sports bet winnings that exceed $600 are subject to a 24% federal tax. Losses can offset winnings, so keeping a record of both could lessen the burden during tax season.
The rate at which your winnings are taxed, at the state level, depends on the amount you’ve won that year. These rates range from 2% - 5.75%.
Virginia sports bettors have been able to enjoy fully online sports betting from the get-go. The average tax rate and high population also make Virginia a worthwhile market for new sportsbooks to enter.
The absence of retail sportsbooks is a current drawback in Virginia — although that will change in the coming years.
No retail sportsbooks yetNo betting on in-state college teamsNo NFL draft bettingThe Old Dominion registered a record monthly sports betting handle of $485.5 million (Virginia Lottery) for January 2022. Since launching statewide mobile sports wagering, over $3.21 billion in total wagers has been secured.
Virginia sports bettors wasted no time getting in on the sports betting action in 2021. After taking in over $236 million in sports wagers in April, Virginia became the fastest state to $1 billion in total sports betting handle.
Here’s a breakdown of Virginia’s sports betting numbers:
| Year | Total handle | Revenue | Hold percentage | Tax revenue |
| 2022 | - | - | - | - |
| 2021 | $3.21B | $285.9M | 8.9% | $130.9M |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
| 2022 | $485.5M | $401.8M | $469.5M | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $1.36B |
| 2021 | $58.9M | $265.8M | $304M | $236.4M | $227M | $235M | $161.9M | $182.4M | $293.8M | $427.3M | $402.5M | $426.6M | $3.21B |
Until recently, Virginia has been a mostly conservative gambling state. Today, some limitations remain including the following:
Bets may not be placed on any political event in Virginia. Politics are off-limits in every U.S. state.
The NFL's major offseason event is big with bettors, however, Virginians are not allowed to place wagers on such events.
Virginia sports bettors may not place wagers on any of the Commonwealth's collegiate teams. However, bets may be placed on out-of-state college teams.
Much-hyped celebrity and pop-culture events, such as the Academy Awards, are off-limits to Virginia bettors.
Esports betting has become increasingly popular and is now legal in Virginia. In 2020, SB384 included clear language permitting esports betting in the Old Dominion.
Despite not having a professional team, Virginia is a huge sports market. It’s no surprise that Virginia sports bettors have come out in full force since the state legalized sports betting in January 2021.
But like all gamblers, it’s vital that Virginia sports bettors take a cautious approach when placing wagers on their favorite clubs. Our how to bet guides are a handy resource for new bettors. Sports betting has no allegiances, so be sure to remain neutral and read the odds carefully.
Virginia is inching closer to unveiling four land-based casinos. Virginians are still a few years away from enjoying live table games and slots, but an abundance of gambling opportunities are on the way.
CasinoFour Virginian cities have approved casino plans to date, with another (Richmond) set to hold a referendum in November 2021.
For online gamblers, sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are the lone options in Virginia. No formal law regulates online casinos in the state.
PokerVirginia’s gambling law does not explicitly outlaw poker, but there are no poker rooms to be found in the Old Dominion. However, this should change with the arrival of casinos in a few years.
Online poker has not been legalized but could be a consideration in the future as Virginia continues to expand on its regulated gambling offerings.
Horse racingFollowing a five-year hiatus, Colonial Downs has been up and running since 2019. Virginia’s lone horse racetrack offers live racing, pari-mutuel betting, and HHR (historical horse racing).
Online horse bets can also be placed online with TVG, TwinSpires, and other horse racing betting sites.
Daily fantasy sportsVirginia was the first to legalize daily fantasy sports (DFS). DraftKings and FanDuel have been running DFS contests in the Commonwealth since 2016.
While the launch of legal sports betting has been a source of excitement and entertainment for many in Virginia, there will inevitably be some who fall into the downward spiral that is gambling addiction. With this in mind, the Virginia Lottery has worked to develop programs for those in need.
At the head of their efforts is the Voluntary Exclusion program. This allows individuals to exclude themselves from all forms of gambling for two years, five years, or a lifetime.
Other resources include a toll-free helpline and support groups for problem gamblers and their families and friends.
Legal online sportsbooks also allow users to place a wide range of restrictions on themselves. Players can set deposit and betting limits or permanently join the self-exclusion list.
Visit the Virginia Council on Problem GamblingIn addition to Virginia, these U.S. states have rolled out legal sports betting:
Offshore betting sites are unreliable and should be avoided. These blacklisted sites are not regulated by the Virginia Lottery and could fold at any moment, taking your funds with them.
Yes, legal sports bets may be placed by anyone 21 and older in Virginia.
Virginia sports bettors are not required to reside in the state. However, players must confirm their location within Virginia before placing an online wager.
As all Virginia sports wagers must be placed online, bettors can use a computer or mobile device to get in on the action anywhere within state borders.
No, bets may not be placed on any of Virginia’s collegiate teams.
Virginians can place a sports bet by visiting a legal sports betting website or downloading a sports betting app.
Virginia generated over $285 million in sports betting revenue in 2021.
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond
Yes, the Barstool Sportsbook is available in Virginia.
Yes, DraftKings launched in Virginia on January 23, 2021.
Yes, FanDuel was the first sportsbook to take a legal sports bet in Virginia. The industry giant has partnered with the Washington Commanders.
Jeff Watters is a content editor at Covers. Before he began supporting Covers experts in making smarter sports bettors in 2021, the well-traveled Nova Scotian and Atlanta Braves fanatic spent time writing about education, software, and NHL prospects.
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