Sports Betting in Virginia
Virginia has taken their gambling industry a step in the right direction by allowing online sports betting to become a legal entity in the state. Online betting went Live in January 2021 and has since increased the revenues of the state. The state has gained over $11 million in state taxes, with players wagering close to $1.5 billion since it launched.
As with the start of the sports betting market, betting in Virginia will happen through online sportsbook apps and mobile, a now-standard method of wagering on sports in the US.
Best Online Sportsbooks in Virginia
As a top state with lots of online sports betting enthusiasts, it's no surprise that there are several top leading sportsbooks already operating in Virginia. The Old Dominion state currently boasts of some of the U.S’s top operators of online sports betting.
The current legislation allows a minimum of four sportsbook operators in the state with no maximum number stated. This is due to the possibility of more brick-and-mortar casinos being opened shortly. There are currently nine sportsbook operators in VA. Six more already announced plans to break into the Old Dominion market in the coming months.
The presence of a high number of operators is beneficial to the players. Increased competition will only offer the best promo and welcome bonuses for new VA players. In essence, operators would be working very hard to stay on top.
DraftKings Sportsbook 9.5/10
Draftkings is an elite sportsbooks operator and one of the known brands in the US online sports betting field. The sportsbook operator offers a host of sports betting options, including popular betting leagues, top-class deposit and withdrawal gateways, and diverse sports to wager on. They were the first operators to launch online sports betting operations in Virginia on January 21, 2021.
DraftKings offers some of the best bonuses available to VA players in the online sports betting market. Often, these bonuses are offered just on sign-up, or when the first deposit is made. At the same time, regular players are rewarded consistently for making use of their betting accounts. DraftKings has some of the best pre-game and in-play markets available, with their odds updated almost every minute to give players only the best for their favorite sports bets.
Every top domestic sports event in the top leagues in the US is available on the DraftKings sportsbook app. Also, It comes with a beautiful and simple UX design to help players get started wagering on their favorite sporting events.
Their mobile apps are available for free download and are supported on iOS, Android, and Windows operating platforms. Once downloaded, you’re open to a world of almost any sporting event and league that can be wagered on.
Tops sports you can wager on in VA include soccer, basketball, baseball, horse racing, Daily Fantasy sports, and other top sports to play at.
FanDuel Sportsbook: 9.3/10
FanDuel also became active in the Old Dominion state on January 21, 2021. Only a handful of online sports betting operators can compete with FanDuel in terms of its rich odds, extensive range of rewards and promotions, a vast array of sporting events to place bets on, ease of access, and dedicated customer support.
They also offer some of the best bonuses available to players from Virginia. You can’t get enough of their mouth-watering welcome bonuses for the new players and the best promotions targeted at the regular players. These bonuses can be used on their massive collection of sports, including Daily Fantasy Sports, Horse racing, US pro leagues, and other exciting events. Interestingly, you don’t need a promo code to claim these bonuses.
The FanDuel sportsbook app has the most downloads on any play store; the app is available for Android, IOS, and Windows devices. Being one of the most downloaded, it has an average rating of 4.7/5 by users and more than a hundred thousand reviews. So, wherever you are in Virginia, you can place bets on some of the top games with quality odds and win as you go.
Just like DraftKings, FanDuel has an array of the best and popular payment channels to give you options on how to deposit your funds and withdraw your winnings. The FanDuel website is highly optimized to give users the stellar experience they’d experience using the mobile betting app.
BetMGM Sportsbook: 9/10
BetMGM is among the earliest sportsbook operators to go live in VA since sports betting became legal. They offer a terrific wagering platform to their players, coupled with top-of-the-shelf odds and attractive bonuses that stretch to both new and regular players. Essentially, BetMGM is now a household name in online sports betting besides DraftKings and FanDuel.
BetMGM is also known for offering appealing bonuses that have enticed new players, including the Risk-Free bonus, welcome bonus, and other juicy offers that can be claimed with their promo codes. In addition, BetMGM does not neglect existing users, they also offer juicy promotions to keep them on the platform.
A particular feature that endears BetMGM to its customers is it offers the “Lion’s Boosts” to their customers, which boosts the odds of selected sports events daily. You can place bets on top sports in their catalog such as Football, Alpine Skiing, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Basketball, Aussie Rules, and Baseball, etc. Bet types such as Same-Game Parlays, Stats Hub, Live Betting, and others, are available for users.
The betting operator also boasts of top security on their platform to protect their player’s financial information from intending cybercriminals. There are lots of deposit and withdrawal options to ease your real money transaction on their platform.
Unibet Sportsbook - 8.9/10
Unibet is a top sportsbook operator that rewards players with quality bonuses. Although they are new in the US sports betting market, they are widely known globally as a well-respected operator. Players are in for a treat with a well-designed and optimized sportsbook app and a licensed sportsbook operator in VA.
One look at their bonus offers, and you’ll understand why it is among their selling points. New players who sign up on the account will receive risk-free bonuses for their first bet. This means that if they lose on the first bet, the amount wagered will be refunded back to their account. The refunded amount can now be wagered again. Users can withdraw only the winnings.
Existing players are treated to various promotions and rewards, including No-brainer specials, Parlay boosters, Cash-back offers, and boosted odds for live games.
The security at Unibet’s site is top-notch, using the latest SSL security encryption to tighten up their servers. There are many payment gateways for depositing and withdrawing funds such as Debit/credit card, E-wallet, and Online bank transfer.
Caesars Sportsbook - 8.7/10
Caesars sportsbook is a licensed sportsbook operator in Virginia. It provides its players with a state-of-the-art sportsbook app that gives VA top bonuses from their first deposit. The company purchased William Hill, a sportsbook company based in the UK, and have used their international network to branch into the U.S online sports betting industry.
Some excellent selections of sports events can be found on the Caesars platform, including Rugby League, Olympics, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Table Tennis, Golf, Football, UFC/MMA, and a host of other hot sports with the international and local leagues available.
The rewards and promotion program Caesars sportsbook offers is unrivaled. It can be compared with the ones provided by other top sports betting operators. Its loyalty program awards players with points redeemable for more cash prizes, free travels, and accessible funds to be spent at their casinos. Their promotions include odds boosts that you can use to get the best out of special matches you wager on.
The banking options at Caesars sportsbook are another reason why you should register with them. They have all the popular payment methods like eCheck, PayPal, PayNearMe, Neteller Online banking Mastercard, and Visa. All the payment methods are secure to give you ample experience when placing wagers on your favorite sports events.
BetRivers Sportsbook - 8.5/10
BetRivers online sportsbook is also one of the earliest operations to launch operations in Virginia in early 2021. The operator has a dedicated betting app that caters to the needs of the registered VA players on their platform. They have managed to make good on their promise with their partnership with a top European company, Kambi.
New players from Virginia can experience some of the best welcome bonuses when they sign and input the promo codes offered by RetRivers. Players can get a 100% bonus cashback on their first deposit, wager on games.
Existing players will be treated to various top games, including their popular loyalty program- the iRush Rewards Program. It offers points to regular players using the amount wagered and the type of bet placed (either Parlay or straight bet) as the basis. It ranks them in their 11 layer promotion ladder to win exciting prizes. Old-timers are also offered odds boosts on selected games to increase the potential cash out for a game.
Some of the top sports to place bets on include Australian rules, Soccer (local and international), Baseball, Table Tennis, and other exciting sports. The operator is licensed by the Virginia Lottery Board and uses the best security encryption to protect their site. They also have lots of banking methods for you to use for deposits and withdrawals. Withdrawals are fast and take 24-72 hours for processing.
WynnBET Sportsbook 8.5/10
WynnBET is one of the new operators to break into the US online sports betting industry. It is owned and managed by Wynn Resorts, a top firm with its customers’ best interests. They recently purchased a European sportsbook, BetBull, to cover more betting spaces. They are also licensed by the Virginia Lottery Board.
WynnBET offers its new members a good No-Risk bonus for their first bet. Lose your first bet, and the amount wagered will be returned to your account as a free bet to wager again. The regular players have lots of promotions, including Parlay boosters, which are offered every Parlay matchday to their customers.
The sportsbook operator has lots of sports that are popular among bettors from Virginia. You can bet on the following sports: Cycling, Cricket, F1, Basketball (NBA), Baseball (MLB), NASCAR, IndyCar, Football (NFL), Softball, and others. You can also wager using different bet types like the Futures, Round Robins, Moneyline, Totals, Live Betting, and Teasers.
WynnBET has an excellent mobile app that can be used conveniently to place bets online. The mobile app is available for download in all apps stores, including Windows, iOS, and Android. The app is reliable, well organized and you won’t have issues placing bets on the app. Their payment methods feature some of the famous banking options available for seamless deposits and withdrawals. WynnBET does not have a unified app; users should watch out for the mobile app they’re downloading.
Barstool Sportsbook - 8.5/10
Barstool sportsbook is another result of a fruitful partnership between two sports betting giants, Barstool Gaming and Penn National Gaming. They were the eighth operator to launch online sports betting operations in Virginia. In March, they became operational in Virginia after Penn National Gaming was granted an operating license by the Virginia Lottery Board.
If you’re a fan of many top sporting events in the US and globally, then Barstool will satisfy your cravings. They offer impressive odds on top games like NBA, MBL, NHL, NCAA football, Basketball. Other sports include Hockey, Tennis, darts, cycling, cricket, boxing, etc.
New VA players will be treated to a great welcome bonus in the form of two for one. The first bet is a free $10 in your account when you sign up and confirm your account. You can wager this amount on any sporting event. That’s not all. They also offer a no-risk bonus bet for your first bet. If you lose your first bet, you will be refunded to place bets again. The best part is you don’t need a promo code to activate these offers.
Existing players are not left out. They have exciting promotions to cater to and reward their players for being loyal and consistent. Barstool also has an excellent mobile app where you can place your bets conveniently. In addition, the website is protected with the best SSL encryption protocol, so be rest assured that your financial information is secured. Banking options are surprising for a new sportsbook that just kicked off; top and secure payment channels for you to fund your account with.
What’s Next?
Aside from these eight sportsbooks, six VA sportsbooks will be launching in the coming months that would tighten the Virginia online sports betting market competition. These six operators have been approved out of a total of 18 applications that were received. The first one is Bally Bet which plans to launch in late 2021, FoxBet Sportsbook, PointsBet sportsbook, etc.
Online Sports Betting Laws in Virginia
Governor Ralph Northam signed the amended HB896 and SB384 into law in April 2020, legalizing online sports betting and granting licenses to approved sportsbooks in Virginia. However, the law became active on July 1, with the final regulations on the conduct of the sportsbooks released on September 15.
One of the highlights of the legislation was the inclusion of in-stadium sports betting at a major league stadium. The law gave power for a minimum of four sportsbooks to operate and a maximum of 12 at any time. Although there are no stadiums of such magnitude yet, plans are already underway to construct one in the nearest future.
The two bills hammered on the restriction of minors below 21 from registering on sports betting sites. It also banned betting on sports for the local youths and sports played at local Virginia colleges. In-game live betting is banned too for such games.
The law also mandated all bookies to pay a 15% tax for all revenues generated through online sports betting.
The Governing Body Overseeing Sportsbooks in Virginia
The Virginia Lottery Board is the body directly responsible for the entire sportsbooks operators in Virginia. They are tasked with the implementation of state legislation on online sports betting. They oversee all VA bookies to create a safe and balanced playing field between the bookies and the players.
Part of their tasks includes creating rules and regulations for the operators and imposing heavy sanctions on erring operators. They also review applications from interested sportsbook operators.
Why Is It Better To Play On Licensed VA Online Betting Sites Rather than Offshore Sites?
Playing at a licensed online VA sportsbook has more benefits than taking the stress of registering at offshore betting sites. Playing at an offshore location is risky because many of them are unregulated and do not follow standard rules for betting sites.
When playing at a licensed VA site, you do not need to fear the unfairness of games, risk of the site not paying you your winnings as when you place a withdrawal request. The Virginia Lottery will ensure you do not fall prey. Suppose you have an issue with any operator, and they do not resolve it. In that case, you can always go to the Board with evidence that the operator did not solve your problem.
They will take up the matter for you. However, this cannot be possible when you choose an offshore betting site. Due to jurisdiction, the Board would not be able to give you the required assistance. For a better gambling experience, stick to betting sites in Virginia that are licensed by the Virginia Lottery Board.