Virginia Sports Betting (2023)

Guide to Sports Betting in Virginia (2023)

As one of the few American states without licensed casinos, Virginia sets the tone for other states in terms of online sportsbooks and sports betting in general.

After passing the most unexpected legislation in 2020, this Commonwealth-State has become a buzzing hive of sportsbook enterprises and sports bettors.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Virginia?

After the Virginia General Assembly and Senate signed the SB 386 and HB 894 bills into law in April 2020, sports betting in the state became a state-licensed gambling activity. However, the bill did not come into force until July 2020 and online sports betting only started in January 2021.

Before Governor Ralph Northam assented to the bill, the Supreme Court had proscribed the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) that prevented sports betting in all states except Nevada. Since that 2018 ruling, states have taken control of their sports betting regulations. And while Virginia is just starting its sportsbooks development, it is surprising that the state even considered legalizing sports betting.

Laws That Regulate VA Online Sports Betting

Sports betting in Virginia covers all forms of professional sports, but Virginia Amateur and University Football competitions are not allowed.

• Sports betting in Virginia is currently mobile and online.
• The minimum age for sports betting in the state is 21.
• There are no land-based casinos in Virginia, but the state is working with online sportsbooks to create four casinos in the next few years.
• Sportsbook operators are required to pay licensing fees as well as 15% gaming taxes.
• The progressive act by Virginia that legalized sports betting in the state has opened it to the rewarding world of sportsbooks, and we are looking forward to more legislation to include modern sports evolutions.

Who Oversees Bookies in VA?

The Virginia Lottery is responsible for overseeing land-based casinos and internet sports betting in Virginia. It was formed in 1987 to regulate the state's lottery. In 2020, its function expanded to include casinos and sportsbooks.

While SB 384 and HB 896 guide the administration of sportsbooks in the state, the VA lottery discharges its duties based on the provisions of Virginia Code § 58.1-4007.

Why playing at licensed and legal VA online sites is better than Offshore Illegal Sites?

Despite the Commonwealth State's attempt to regulate sportsbooks in the state, there are several unlicensed betting sites in Virginia. These options pervaded the state before it legalized sports betting and have gained root among its gambling community.

While these illegal sites seemed to have offered the bettors the needed sports betting, they are mostly unregulated and present a high risk to their users.

State-licensed sportsbooks are highly regulated, unlike the offshore sites that are not vetted before starting operations. They have to meet the state's standard for security and gaming activities. The regulations assure you that your licensed sportsbooks would not infringe your privacy, shade your data or offer illegal gaming services.

How We Review and Picked The Best Sportsbook in Virginia

Our review assesses Virginia's online sportsbooks and tries to present the best option for new players and others trying to explore new options.

We also recognize that players have several criteria for what endears them to a sportsbook, which is why we have listed our standards for ensuring that our reviews cover the essential qualifications for an acceptable sportsbook. The most important features include:

License and Security

Many sportsbooks operate without the regulatory bodies to keep them in line with standard practices. Before registering at any sportsbook, scroll to the foot of the mobile app homepage, and search for a licensing body. There should be at least one, with the full name stated and its license number.  Some of the best sportsbooks provide a link to the regulatory body’s site to confirm it yourself. 

A primary factor is the security measures in place by the sportsbook. Most sportsbooks use the latest encryption technology to protect your financial information. You can confirm by trying to log in from the webpage. There should be a padlock icon on the address bar showing that the site uses ‘HTTPS’ to protect its site. If these measures are not in place, you should consider another sportsbook.

It is important to us that our recommendations are licensed and considered legal in Virginia. We recommend them to help players find options that support their gaming preferences without toeing the legal line.

The sportsbooks must also show sufficient security to protect their users' identities and ensure that their payment methods are secure and easy to use.

Payment Methods

A good criterion for a top sportsbook is the availability of many payment methods to choose from. However, we believe that quality over quantity is ideal. When we consider VA sportsbooks, we look out for the operators that have some popular payment methods so that VA players can use the one convenient to them. Some of the popular methods of payment include:

• Bank Transfers
• eChecks
• Prepaid Cards
• E-wallets
• Debit/credit card

When searching for a good VA sportsbook to join, a good tip is to confirm the processing time for deposits and withdrawals. A good sportsbook processes deposit instantly and take 24-72 hours for withdrawals.

Sports and Betting Markets

Players may want security, but they also want excitement and opportunities to win. These sportsbooks provide several betting options across all sporting events. We understand that players may want other options that specific platforms don't offer.

Still, we cover every available game option and ensure they provide all gaming and viewing services the player may require. The games covered in this review include:

• Basketball (NBA)
• Football (NFL)
• F1
• Golf
• Boxing
• IndyCar
• Baseball (MLB)
• MMA (UFC)
• Aussie Rules Football
• NASCAR

We will continue to review and list gaming options as the platforms make them available, and answers your questions about their viewing, and odds.

High Betting odds

Sportsbooks may have exciting game options and quality interfaces, but they are not worth much to the players without rewarding odds. We review the odds and the update frequency of each sportsbook before ranking them in this list.

User Interface and Customer Support

When placing bets on any sports betting app, some situations may arise where you need the help of customer support personnel to resolve them. Sometimes, a user could have questions not answered on the FAQs, and only a support team can answer. We search for a sportsbook with active customer support that can answer your inquiries through different channels.

Some of the channels we confirm during the review include:

• E-mail
• Telephone
• Social media
• Live chat
• Contact forms

Even with the availability of all these modes of communication, we make sure to test each one to confirm they are manned, and inquiries are attended to in the shortest possible time. 

Rewards and Bonuses

A selling point for top online sports betting operators is the bonus offers targeted at potential users. Every day, new and exciting bonuses are released for the benefit of the players. We constantly search for the juiciest welcome bonuses that players can receive. One of the main reasons we take our time is that these bonuses are temporary, and also bear some strict terms and conditions. So, we look for the perks that come with better terms.

Some of the best bonuses you should watch out for include:

• No deposit bonus
• No risk bonus
• Match bonus
• Cashback bonuses

As new sportsbooks emerge, the attention of regular players is drawn away to try out new sportsbooks with selling welcome bonuses. So, sportsbook operators try to retain their players by using promotions and loyalty programs to encourage their existing players on the platform. Some of them could be ladder programs, where the players are offered loyalty points and climb the ladder, VIP club, odds boosts, etc. 

Live Streaming

Live streaming is another critical criterion we look out for. This feature comes in handy for users who are far away from home or do not have a TV set nearby to watch the game. We believe that sportsbooks should be able to provide the technology for live game streaming.

The streaming should be sharp and clear with no buffering whatsoever. They can also add live updates, commentaries, and scores as the game go. Many VA sportsbooks offer this feature, so if the sports betting platform you want to register at does not have live streaming, then consider others.

How to Join/Create an Account at Sportsbooks in Virginia

Almost all VA sportsbooks have different systems for the registration of new customers. These processes may include you submitting your documents for verification by a member of their customer support. Do not be scared; it is used to checkmate the rate of minors registering on sports betting sites and prevent fraud. It is also a means of protection against identity theft. 

We’ll use this section to highlight the process, step by step, of how to register your account at your favorite sportsbook site.