Virginia gambling laws are relatively restrictive, and generally define gambling as betting on the outcome of any games or contests that depend on chance. While casinos and greyhound racing are specifically prohibited, the state allows horse racing and off-track betting at licensed facilities. Substitute Senate Bill 1126 authorizes casino gaming in Virginia to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board. The bill specifies the licensing requirements for casino gaming and imposes criminal.

Virginia sports betting should be live in January 2021 after the state legalized betting in 2020.

At the start, sports betting in Virginia will take place via mobile and online sportsbook apps, which have become increasingly popular through the legal US sports betting market.

Here is more of what you need to know about Virginia sports betting.

Virginia sports betting to go live in 2021

We should be just weeks away from a launch of legal sports betting in Virginia.

Virginia regulators have started the process of licensing sports betting apps to operate in the state. That means January 2021 is possible or even likely for a sports betting launch in the commonwealth.

Legal Virginia online sports betting

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.

You do not need to live in Virginia to bet on sports in the state. You will, however, need to be physically located in the state to place a wager legally.

The state lottery oversees VA sports betting. Regulations are already in place, and more than two dozen sportsbooks have applied to operate in the state. There could be up to a dozen apps available throughout Virginia eventually.

Best Virginia sportsbook apps

State law mandates that there will be a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 VA sportsbook apps available.

It is unknown which sportsbooks will offer sports betting apps in Virginia but many of these brands are participating in new markets throughout the US legal market:

Generally speaking, more sportsbooks in a given state lead to a better market. Competition to gain customers often leads to sportsbooks offering better signup offers and promo codes. These can include free bets or deposit matches, ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.

This is not necessarily a complete list of potential VA sportsbooks. Your smartphone device will use geolocation technology to verify that you are within Virginia before allowing you to bet with these sportsbook apps.

Here’s some more information on some of the biggest sportsbooks that will likely find their way into Virginia:

DraftKings Sportsbook

Virginia Gambling Statute

DraftKings, a leader in both daily fantasy sports and sports betting in the US, has been aggressive about getting into every state possible, and it seems likely it will find its way into Virginia.

If you’re a new bettor it’s not clear what DraftKings will offer in Virginia, but in other states they usually give out $25 free and a deposit bonus of up to $1,000.

FanDuel Sportsbook

The current US leader among all sportsbooks in terms of amount wagered, it’s also difficult to believe FanDuel will be absent from the market.

Again, we don’t know what the offer will be in Virginia, but bettors in other states usually get up to a $1,000 risk-free bet.

BetMGM Sportsbook

The sportsbook from MGM Resorts International has been similarly aggressive entering every online sports betting state it can. It will not have a brick-and-mortar casino in the state, but does have one in neighboring Maryland. In any event, MGM is likely to find its way in.

Bettors should get a deposit match bonus of up to $500, based on what MGM does in other states.

William Hill Sportsbook

Why will we likely see William Hill in Virginia? Caesars will build the casino in Danville; Caesars is also buying William Hill. One plus one equals a likely VA sportsbook from William Hill, a big operator in Nevada and the UK, with a growing footprint around the US.

William Hill offers up to a $500 free bet on a first deposit in many other states.

Virginia sportsbooks at casinos

When Virginia sports betting launches, there won’t be any physical sportsbooks. Part of the reason why? Virginia also just legalized casinos in 2020, and none of the.

Virginia casinos were approved in 2020 referendums and will be built in the coming years. And there should be sportsbooks at those casinos eventually.

Virginia Gambling Statute Of Limitations

There could also be physical sportsbooks at sporting venues, like Virginia’s two auto racing tracks.

Latest VA sports betting news

West Virginia Sports Betting Statute

There Are 25 Virginia Sports Betting Applicants But Lottery Won’t Say Who

The state lottery’s application process concerning who will operate Virginia sports betting appears more secretive than necessary. The Virginia Lottery confirmed 25 sports betting operators applied between Oct. 15 and Halloween. Who they are, however, sounds like it will remain a secret until the winners are chosen. “The names of specific applicants will not be […] Read More