Online Sports Betting in Virginia

Virginia sports betting is live and legal. Sports betting became legal in VA in April 2020 after the Virginia General Assembly and the Senate passedsports betting bill SB 384 and HB 896 to bring mattes to do with legal sports betting to the Old Dominion state. Despite this move, online bookies didn’t launch in Virginia until January 2021. At this particular moment in time, Virginia sports bettorscan go ahead and place your bets online, since retail sports betting is not yet available in Virginia. In this article, we’ll be looking at everything that you need to know about online sports bettingin Virginia. You’ll get to know about top Virginia sportsbooks, available payment options for Virginia bettors, types of betting options offered by Virginia bookies, and whether DFS and online casinos are legal in Virginia, to mention but a few. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Recommended Sportsbooks for a Quick Start:

Yan Zhylinski
Yan Zhylinski
Online Sports Betting in Virginia

Top Bookmakers in Virginia

Virginia is home to several bookmakers that immediately applied for a license to serve the state’s huge sports betting market the moment the sports betting laws were passed. While all claim to be the best for your business, that’s not necessarily the case. Below are top sportsbooks in Virginia’s betting marketthat you may want to try:

BetMGM Sportsbook

Not to be outdone by the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel, BetMGM didn’t waste any timepenetrating Virginia’s sports betting market. BetMGM is one of the top gambling empires across the globe, and already operates in several other states. In Virginia, BetMGM is determined to secure a huge customer base with their attractive welcome offer. At BetMGM, you can bet on all the major sports, while enjoying a variety of betting markets at your fingertips. Live betting is also an option here and creating your account only takes a few minutes. They also have an app for both iOS and Android devices, for betting on the go.

To claim this Sports Promotion, you must during the Promotional Period (a) visit betmgm or download the BetMGM Sports mobile application, (b) open a BetMGM Sports wagering account, (c) deposit a minimum of $10 in to your account and (d) place, as your first real money bet after opening your account, any sports wager using funds you deposited into your account (a “Qualifying Bet”). Only the first $1,000 of the Qualifying Bet are eligible for this promotion.
BetMGM Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel is today live and legal in Virginia. Despite operating daily fantasy sports in Virginia for many years, they had to wait for legal sports betting to become a reality in Virginia. When that became a reality in January 2021, they were the first to launch bookmaker to launch for online sports betting. This bookmaker operates a full sportsbook that features plenty of sports markets, including college sports. With betting types to cater for all players, they have a helpful guide for new players to Virginia sports betting. Mobile sports betting is also available here on their dedicated app for both iOS and Android devices. A generous welcome offer is readily available to new users, with other promotions being available to regular Virginia’s sports fans. With a variety of payment options, FanDuel ensures that they cater for the needs of many bettors.

The Promotion is only open to individuals who are at least 21 years. During the Promotion Period you must place a deposit of at least ten dollars ($10) and then place your first real money wager of any type using your FanDuel Account on the FanDuel Sportsbook (“Eligible Wager”). The Eligible Wager must be your first real money wager placed using your FanDuel Account.
FanDuel Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook

With Caesars acquisition of William Hill, Caesars sportsbook is without a doubt a sure winner as one of the best bookmakers in Virginia. Just recently, they redesigned their sportsbook to become even better. Now, Virginia sports bettorsstand a chance of landing a huge welcome offer upon sign up. Their platform is highly attractive, their welcome offer too competitive and their odds are great: anyway you choose to slice it, without a doubt, Caesars Sportsbook remains one of those top platforms to use regardless of whether you are a seasoned sports bettor or just beginning on a new hobby.

To be eligible for this promotion, you must: Successfully open your first Caesars Sportsbook. Use an eligible promo code when opening your new account; Have an account that remains in good standing during the entire Promotion Period. 21+
Caesars Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook

Following hot on the heels of its primary rival, DraftKings opened its doors for business in the Old Dominion only a few days after FanDuel went live. DraftKings already had a presence in Virginia with DFS and they were expected to be one of the pioneer operators in Virginia. A major part of DraftKings’ strength is its streamlined mobile betting app that’s available for iOS and Android. DraftKings understands that plenty of sports bettors lead busy lives, and they aim at building their customer base fast with an intuitive app that offers the same bells and whistles as on the desktop site. You entire favorite sports markets are available at DraftKings, and you can take advantage of an attractive welcome offer on your initial deposit. The bookie invites experienced players to join their VIP club where they stand to enjoy rewards and other good opportunities.

Minimum deposit $5. Bonus amount is equal to 20% of that deposit amount, not to exceed $1,000.
DraftKings Sportsbook

Barstool Sportsbook

Sports bettors in Virginia have for some time managed to build one of the strongest wagering markets in the U.S. despite their lack of local pro sports teams. Barstool Sportsbook acted fast, not wasting time to dip their feet and joining this hot sports betting market, managing to launch their acclaimed mobile app and betting site in the Old Dominion on August 10, 2021. Barstool have a wealth of experience across the online sports betting scene, and they are aware that an attractive welcome offer is a necessity to get new users to sign up with them when launching their sportsbook somewhere. For that reason, they offer a risk-free bet promo that’s worth up to $1,000 in site credit for players that register with them.

Make your first ever deposit into your Player Account. Next, place any single sports wager bet on your sportsbook betslip to establish your Eligible Wager. If the Eligible Wager loses, you will receive the Promotion Offer in the form of a refund in sportsbook bonus cash equal to the amount wagered (up to $1,000).
Barstool Sportsbook

WynnBet Sportsbook

WynnBET Sportsbook is available in several states with legal sports betting on their lawbooks, including Virginia. Virginia sports bettorsusing Wynn platform in their sports wagering activities can expect tailor made experiences, along with an attractive set of mobile apps and browser-based sportsbooks. They have apps available for Android and iOS platforms that are readily available for download on WynnBET website and on your preferred app download store. If you find this bookie attractive for you, make sure to take advantage of their amazing promotional deals.

Minimum Bet: One hundred dollars ($100). Qualifying Wager: Any straight or parlay wager, on any sport, with odds of -120 or greater, for at least the Minimum Bet amount. • Award 1: One Free Bet total of $50. • Award 2: Casino Bonus worth a total of $50.
WynnBET Sportsbook

Unibet Sportsbook

Unibet has continued with its expansion in the United States, and Virginia is now the fourth state where Unibet now operates. The great news for Virginia sports bettors is that Unibet Virginia gives them a welcome bonus upon signing up with them. Better yet, Virginia sports fans can receive up to $500 if their initial bet loses. There are several reasons as to why Unibet is one of the top sports betting sites in Virginia. Their app allows for easy remote betting and have quality of promotions for tons of sports that they offer.

Unibet Sportsbook

Virginia Betting Sites: A Comparative Look

Sportsbook Bonus Offer Launch Date Mobile App
BetMGM CO $1,000 NoJanuary 21, 2021 Yes
FanDuel CO $1,000 January 21, 2021 Yes
Caesars CO $1,001 August 10, 2021 Yes
DraftKings $1,050 January 24, 2021 Yes
Barstool $1,000 August 10, 2021 Yes
WynnBET $1,000 March 11, 2021 Yes
Unibet $500 April 28, 2021 April 28, 2021

Virginia Mobile Betting Apps for iOS and Android

As of January 21, 2021, it was now possible for Virginia sports fans to place bets from anywhere within the state. Mobile sports betting apps are one of the most convenient ways of getting into the action. They make it easy to sign up, manage your bankroll, view the odds, and place bets. As an extra perk, several Virginia sports betting apps now allow their customers to live stream sporting events while on the move.

All the sportsbooks we mention above have decent apps available for Apple and Android. If you want our honest opinion on all the apps that the above sportsbook have, our reviewers believe that FanDuel sports betting app is the best of them all. It’s quite easy on navigation, plus you can go ahead and use the app in each 10 states where FanDuel Sportsbook operates, which comes in handy if you travel much.

How to Place Online Sports Bets in Virginia

Virginia has made the whole process of signing up for a bookmaker and placing bets to be very simple. Here’s how to go about Virginia online gambling:

Step 1

Visit the Sportsbook’s Desktop Site or their Mobile app – First, you need to find a bookmaker of your choice in VA. With plenty of sports betting sites in Virginia, you won’t have a difficult time settling for one. If you find one, head straight to the desktop site or mobile app.

Step 2

Register your account – Now that you’ve established a new sports betting site that you like, go ahead and register with them. In most of them, the registration process is very fast. At this point, provide your personal details such as name, username, password, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number.

Step 3

Deposit funds to your account – Now that your account is active, the next step is to fund your account. Plenty of sports betting sites in Virginia provide a way of going about this and make it very fast and seamless.

Step 4

Locate the sports you want to wager on and place your bet(s)– Lastly, go ahead and navigate the menu to locate the sport or prop market that you’d like to place a wager on, using the bet slip to make your initial bet!

Types of Bonus Offers & Promotions Available at Virginia Sportsbooks

If sign up at any Virginia sports betting site for first time, rest assured of finding a huge variety of offers since these bookies are all vying for your attention. With the both the size and the competitive nature of the market in Virginia, there’s bound to be increased marketing efforts by Virginia bookmakers. So far, though, some of the offers at plenty of online sportsbooks in VA include the following:

  • Odds boost – Improved odds on specific events.
  • Risk-free bet – Site credit that players get up to the amount of their wager if they lose.
  • Deposit bonus – The bonus matches the funds to a player’s account to wager upon deposit.
  • No-deposit bonus – Money to bet with that’s not tied to a deposit.

Payment Methods for Virginia Players

Virginia sports bettors will be happy to learn that bookmakers that operate their support a plethora of payment options. Customers will always want to be presented with several deposit and withdrawal option so that they choose which ones they find safe and convenient for them. In Virginia, the methods of funding your account will vary from one bookmaker to the next. But the following are the most common ones that Virginia sports fans use at most online VA sportsbooks:

  • Electronic Check
  • Online banking
  • Pre-paid cards
  • PayNearMe (Funding method at 7-Eleven and other select stores)
  • PayPal
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards

Different Sports Bets Offered by Virginia Bookmakers

A limited range on the type of sports bets offered by a bookmaker is a big discouraging factor to actual and potential online sports bettors. Successful bookmakers are those that offer their customers a wide range of sports bets. Players need to have several types of sports bets so that they can choose any that they are familiar with when placing their bets.

Based on our review, we were able to establish that Virginia sportsbooks offer their customers plenty of sports bets to choose from depending on the type of sports that bettors choose. However, some of the most common sports bets that you can find at almost all the bookmakers in West Virginia include the moneyline, points spread, futures, over/under, odd/even goal, cards, corners, both teams to score, parlays, teasers, and player to score among others.

Live Betting

One of the most interesting things regarding states that permit online sports betting as the state of Virginia does is the option of live betting, also known as in-game wagering. Even though plenty of sports betting fans associate sports wagering with wagers that get placed before an event begins, a growing part of the sports betting industry is the ability to place bets while the events are already underway. All the bookmakers that we mention here support live betting. For them, the fun doesn’t stop when the games begin. Their apps even offer additional in-play betting markets that are constantly updates as the games progress. Some of them include points spreads, moneyline, proposition bets on player performance, and results of a half or a quarter among others.

Leagues and Sports Games to Bet on in Virginia

Virginia sports bettors will be pleased to learn that they can wager on plenty of sports games and leagues. Traditional American sports do feature prominently. Baseball, football, hockey and basketball have a huge following, which translates to competitive wagering across Virginia sports betting sites. The following are some of the sports games and leagues that you can wager on in VA:

  • The Super Bowl
  • Daytona 500
  • Stanley Cup
  • World Series
  • US Grand Prix
  • The Masters
  • National Football League
  • Kentucky Derby
  • NBA
  • US Open Tennis

Virginia Pro Teams to Bet on

Even though Virginia is one of the most populous states in the U.S., surprisingly, the Old Dominion doesn’t have any professional sports teams. Virginia is one of those states without a pro NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB sports teams that you can wager on as a bettor. The hard truth is that the state of Virginia is more or less “home”to the entire Washington D.C. professional teams, with the fan base being somewhat strong in Northern Virginia.

Responsible Betting in Virginia

The state of Virginia has always insisted that it’s committed to responsible gambling. With several operators in the state and more expected to debut in the coming years, it means that there will be plenty of opportunities for residents and visitors of the Old Dominion to enjoy sports betting. However, not all may run well. Some Virginians will have to deal with cases of compulsive gambling problems. That’s why the Virginia Lottery, which is responsible for regulating gambling in Virginia, is working on programs to help individuals with such problems. Some facets of VA Lottery initiative are still developing, such as a broad self-exclusion program.

The Legality of Online Sports Betting in Virginia

Online sports betting is legal in Virginia since April 2020. You cannot be persecuted for engaging in online sports wageringin the Old Dominion, especially after sports betting bill was unanimously passed to legalize online sports betting in Virginia. However, to be able to place bets in Virginia, you need to be of the legal age to do so. In Virginia, you must be at least 21 years of age and above to be able to place bets. All the betting activities fall under the regulation of the Virginia Lottery. Of importance to keep at the back of your mind is that Virginia taxes winnings accrued from gambling and ranges from 2% to 5.75%.

Online Casinos in Virginia

Online casinos are illegal in Virginia. However, state law permits for online casinos in a limited number of cities in Virginia. Virginia sports betting law will have to be changed in order to make online casino sites legal. But as things stand, they remain illegal based on the sports betting law in Virginia.

DFS in Virginia

Daily fantasy sports is adrenaline-fuelled and intense, with seasons that are mostly crammed into 24 hours. But there are season-long fantasy sports that tend to be more leisurely and played over some months. Virginia was the first state to legalize everything about DFS in 2016 after the state signed the Fantasy Contests Act into law. This bill acknowledges DFS as a game of skill and not some type of illegal online gambling.

FAQs

What is the legal gambling age in Virginia?

You have to be at least 21 years and above to place bets in Virginia.

Must I be a resident of Virginia to be able to wager online?

Not at all. You just have to be physically present in the state of Virginia to place online bets.

Can I place bets on my iPhone in Virginia?

Absolutely! Virginia bookies have mobile betting apps that are designed for iOS devices.

Are other forms of betting legal in Virginia?

All forms of gambling are considered illegal unless the state deems them legal.

Is BetUS, Bovada and MyBookies legal in Virginia?

Mostly, yes. But again, they are offshore sites and much may not be known about them.

Will my gambling winnings be subjected to taxes in Virginia?

Yes, you will have to pay between 2% to 5.75% taxes on your winnings.

Is DFS legal in Virginia?

Daily fantasy sports are considered legal in Virginia. You can wager on such contests without any worries.

Are VA sports gambling sites safe?

Most of them are safe since they have sports betting licenses to operate and fall under the watch and regulation of the Virginia Lottery.

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