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Until 2021, Virginia wasn’t a gambling state and had practically no options for gamers and sports bettors (state lottery aside). This all turned around in March 2020 when lawmakers permitted voters in Bristol, Danville, Richmond, Norfolk, and Portsmouth to hold local referendums on approving commercial casinos in their cities.
Four approved (Richmond declined), making way for commercial casinos, which had been unlawful until then. However, the referendums did not cover online casinos, which remain illegal (don’t worry, you still have options and can still legally play at sweepstakes casinos, but not for real money. We’ll be covering this in more depth later on the page, so keep reading).
Shortly after, the Virginia General Assembly and Senate passed SB 384 and HB 896, allowing sweeping gambling reform and expansion, including the legal infrastructure for up to five commercial casinos, online and retail sports betting, and daily fantasy sports.
Virginia sportsbooks became legal in April 2020, and the first online sportsbooks went live in January 2021. There are currently 14 sportsbooks in this state, with more to come as the law allows for 18 licenses. Commercial casinos are expected to launch in 2022-23, and they will likely operate sports betting sites taking the remaining permits. FanDuel was the first operator to debut in the state.
Virginia is currently one of few US states allowing for an online-only market and licensing, with regulation controlled by The Virginia Lottery. It’s prohibited to wager on in-state college teams and college prop bets. The legal gambling age is 21.
Licensing Conditions:
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | Up to $1,000 risk-free first bet | Jan 2021 |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,000 risk-free first bet | Jan 2021 |
| Bally Bet | 100% up to $250 bet match | Jan 2021 |
| BetRivers | 100% cash match up to $250 | Jan 2021 |
| Caesars | Up to $1,100 risk-free first bet | Jan 2021 |
| DraftKings | 20% deposit match up to $1,000 | Jan 2021 |
| WynnBET | Bet $50 and get $200 in free bets | Mar 2021 |
| Unibet | Up to $100 risk-free first bet | Apr 2021 |
| Barstool | Up to $1,000 risk-free first be | Aug 2021 |
| Golden Nugget | Up to $250 free bet | Oct 2021 |
| PointsBet | Two risk-free bets up to $2,000 | Dec 2021 |
| Hard Rock | Up to $100 risk-free bet | Mar 2022 |
| Betway | 50% free bet match up to $1,000 | May 2022 |
| SI Sportsbook | Bet $5, win $100 in free bets | May 2022 |
There’s no news about when and if VA online casinos will become legal. However, as in some other states that have legalized sports betting and commercial casinos, it’s expected that if legal gambling goes smoothly, the state may then look towards regulating online casinos for further tax revenue. However, for now, it’s not an option.
If you live in Virginia and want to play online casino games, you still have options in the form of a sweepstakes casino. Sweepstakes casinos offer hundreds of slots, tables, and in the case of BetRivers.Net, even live dealers.
In some cases, these are real casino games from top providers like NetEnt, IGT, and Evolution Gaming. In other cases, they are specially developed social slots. The games are available to play for free using virtual coins that you collect from winning and through bonuses.
At some sweepstakes casinos, you may have the option to buy additional coins, but you do not need to. Instead, if you run out, you can await your next bonus and use more free coins to keep playing.
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Sweepstakes or social casinos offer all of the fun of an online casino and are legal in almost every US state except Washington. These sites provide all of the rewards and fun of playing casino games without any risks, as you’re not playing for real money.
If you’re ready to try your luck at one of these top online casinos, here are the best sites to join. As you’re playing for free, pay particular attention to the bonuses on offer and frequency.
You’ll find different bonuses at each sweepstakes casino. Every site has a welcome offer, but the value changes between operators. Make sure you compare what’s available and how the virtual coins work to get the best sign-up deal at a particular site.
When it comes down to ongoing bonuses, you’ll need to look at what is available and the frequency. For example, some social casinos offer big rewards for sharing your progress on social media and participating in competitions. Others give bonuses every day or at hourly intervals. If you’re unsure where to start, read our complete sweepstakes casino reviews to get the in-depth lowdown on what each of our top-rated VA casinos offer.
Signing up for a VA sportsbook or sweepstakes online casino takes just a few moments.
While there are no retail casinos currently live, they are expected in the next few years, and partnerships have already been agreed upon in the four cities that approved commercial casinos in the 2020 referendums. Here’s what the VA casino scene will look like once established:
Responsible gambling support is available via several sources in Virginia. If you are concerned about your gambling, or someone else's, you can access support via:
Stay on top of the latest VA gambling news with the Casino Cabbie weekly digest.
The legal gambling age in this state is 21.
You can lay legal online sports bets, enjoy daily fantasy sports and buy your lottery tickets online.
As of 2020, commercial casinos are legal, sports betting (in person and online), and daily fantasy sports. Horse racing and the lottery were earlier regulated and remained legal.
FanDuel was the first online sportsbook to launch in VA and has been live since January 2021. Check out the “VA Licensed Sportsbooks” table above to see the other available sports betting sites.
Online casinos are not legal in Virginia; therefore, you cannot play using a website or app. However, you can use a sweepstakes casino as these sites do not offer real money gambling. You will find plenty of online slots, table games, and live dealer tables at our top-rated sweeps sites.
Our top three rated VA sportsbooks are BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars.
The best sweepstakes casino is BetRivers.Net, followed by Pulsz Casino and Fortune Coins. Read a full review of each site and claim a welcome bonus; click the link.
Gambling is regulated in this state by The Virginia Lottery.
There are two racetracks in VA. Although they have closed in the past, both are currently open and offer race days and pari-mutuel wagers.
