Virginia sports betting: legal sportsbooks & rules for 2026

Is sports betting legal in Virginia?

Yes. Governor Ralph Northam signed Senate Bill 384 and House Bill 896 on April 22, 2020, authorizing sports wagering under Virginia Lottery oversight.

• Virginia then took a different route from many neighboring states: it launched mobile betting first instead of waiting for a network of physical sportsbooks.
• FanDuel accepted the state's first legal online wager in January 2021, and other national operators followed quickly.

The online-first approach mattered because Virginia's casino industry was still being built. Retail sportsbooks arrived later alongside casino development in Bristol, Portsmouth, Danville, Norfolk, and Petersburg. Mobile betting therefore remains the most convenient statewide channel, while casino-based books give bettors an in-person alternative.

You must be at least 21 years old and physically located in Virginia when placing an online wager. You do not have to be a Virginia resident. Sportsbooks use geolocation software to verify that your device is inside state lines when the bet is submitted.

Virginia sportsbook apps and permit holders

Virginia remains a competitive sportsbook market, but operator counts need careful wording because permit holders, suppliers, casino partners, and consumer-facing brands do not always map one-to-one.

• The Virginia Lottery currently lists 11 approved sports betting permit holders on its official approvals page.
• Some operate nationally recognized apps directly, while others are casino or market-access entities that work with sportsbook suppliers.

For bettors, the practical result is a strong lineup of familiar national books. Major brands available in Virginia include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, BetRivers, Fanatics Sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, Bally Bet, and theScore Bet. Brand lineups can change, so always verify that the operator is currently authorized in Virginia before depositing.

Do not choose a sportsbook only because of a headline promotion. Compare the underlying odds, withdrawal methods, market depth, responsible gambling controls, and terms attached to bonuses. Our sportsbook reviews directory, sportsbook bonus guide, and line shopping strategy are useful before opening multiple accounts.

Which sports can you bet on in Virginia?

Virginia sportsbooks cover the major professional leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, international soccer, tennis, golf, MMA, boxing, motorsports, and many other approved competitions. The Virginia Lottery maintains an approved events and wager-types catalogue that operators must follow.

The important exception is college betting. Virginia law prohibits wagers on Virginia college sports, meaning a sportsbook cannot take a bet on a game in which a Virginia public or private institution is participating.

• The law also prohibits proposition bets on college sports generally.
• That means bettors can wager on many out-of-state college games, but not on individual college player props and not on games involving UVA, Virginia Tech, VCU, William & Mary, or other Virginia colleges.

Bet types & live betting in Virginia

Licensed Virginia sportsbooks offer the familiar betting menu on approved events: moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, team props, professional player props, futures, and live in-play markets. If you are new to these formats, start with our types of sports bets guide and odds and lines guide.

Because Virginia supports multiple national books, comparing the same market across apps can matter. A half-point difference on a spread or a better moneyline price changes the long-run value of the same opinion. Live betting makes price comparison harder because odds move quickly, so confirm the market, stake, and displayed price on the betting slip before submitting.

Retail sportsbooks in Virginia

Virginia did not begin with a traditional casino sportsbook network.

• Retail betting expanded after the online market was already established, following the state's separate casino legalization and local referendum process.
• The Virginia Lottery currently lists facility operators in Bristol, Portsmouth, Danville, Norfolk, and Petersburg, showing how quickly the land-based side of the market has grown since the original mobile launch.

Hard Rock Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Caesars Virginia in Danville are established casino destinations. Norfolk's project is being developed by the Pamunkey Tribe and Boyd Gaming, with a transitional casino preceding the planned permanent resort.

• Petersburg's Live! casino project also received a Virginia facility operator approval in January 2026.
• Sportsbook availability and branding at each property can evolve, so check the casino directly before traveling specifically to place a retail wager.

Why Virginia still has no online casino

Virginia does not currently have regulated real-money online casino gaming. The state has legal internet sports betting and Virginia Lottery online products, but those are not the same thing as a licensed online casino offering real-money slots, blackjack, roulette, or live dealer games.

The 2026 General Assembly came closer than previous sessions. Senate Bill 118 would have authorized internet gaming through licensed Virginia casino operators, set an initial $500,000 operator licensing fee, and used a 20% tax on adjusted gross internet gaming revenue.

• The bill passed the Senate and later passed the House with a substitute, but the two chambers could not resolve their differences in conference.
• The official bill record shows SB118 failed to pass from conference on March 14, 2026.

How Virginia compares to other states

Virginia's 15% sportsbook tax is moderate compared with many large East Coast markets.

• It is higher than West Virginia's 10% rate, but lower than Ohio's 20%, Illinois's progressive top tiers, Pennsylvania's 36%, and New York's 51% mobile rate.
• The tax structure gives Virginia a competitive operator environment without using the extremely low rates seen in a few early-adopter states.

Virginia is also unusual because it launched online first and built retail betting later.

• That makes it a useful contrast with Pennsylvania, which grew out of an established casino network, and with Ohio, which launched online, retail, and kiosk channels at the same time.
• Virginia's college rules are stricter than West Virginia's and Ohio's team-level rules because any game involving a Virginia college is prohibited.

Use the America's Bookies state-by-state betting directory to compare Virginia with the full U.S. market.

How to sign up

Virginia allows fully remote sportsbook registration, so you do not need to visit a casino before opening a mobile account. Operators generally ask for your legal name, date of birth, address, email, phone number, and identity-verification information. You may create an account from elsewhere, but you must be inside Virginia to place the actual wager.

Funding methods vary by sportsbook and can include bank transfer, PayPal, debit options, and other approved payment methods. Before your first deposit, read our bankroll management guide and betting slip guide.

Taxes on winnings

Sports betting winnings are taxable income under federal law and can also create Virginia state tax obligations.

• Operators may issue a W-2G or other tax documentation when reporting thresholds are met, but the absence of a form does not automatically mean the winnings are non-taxable.
• Keep accurate records and consult a qualified tax professional for advice about your own return.

Virginia law directs 2.5% of sports betting tax revenue to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund and sends the remaining 97.5% to the state general fund. That dedicated problem-gambling allocation is built directly into the sports betting statute.

For more context on how operator tax rates affect sportsbook economics, bonuses, and pricing, see our sportsbook promotions economics analysis.

Related reading

Useful Virginia betting guides

Learn the mechanics, compare prices, and manage risk before betting.

📘How Sports Betting WorksA beginner walkthrough of sportsbooks, markets, and settlement.📈Understanding Odds & LinesRead moneylines, spreads, totals, and implied probability.🛒Line ShoppingCompare Virginia sportsbook prices before placing the same bet.🧾Read a Betting SlipCheck odds, stake, market, and return before confirming.🛡️Responsible GamblingUse limits, breaks, and self-exclusion tools.🗺️All State GuidesCompare Virginia with every other U.S. market in our directory.

Responsible gambling resources

The Virginia Lottery oversees responsible gambling requirements for regulated sports betting.

• Operators provide tools such as deposit controls, cooling-off options, and account restrictions, while Virginia's voluntary exclusion framework lets people block themselves from regulated gambling activity.
• These tools are most effective when used proactively rather than only after gambling becomes stressful.

FAQ

When did sports betting become legal in Virginia?

Governor Ralph Northam signed SB 384 and HB 896 on April 22, 2020. Virginia launched online sports betting on January 21, 2021, with retail sportsbooks arriving later as the state's casino properties opened.

How many sportsbook permit holders are approved in Virginia?

The Virginia Lottery's current approvals page lists 11 approved sports betting permit holders. Consumer-facing brands and supplier relationships can change, so bettors should check the Lottery's current approvals before depositing.

Can I bet on UVA or Virginia Tech games in Virginia?

No. Virginia law prohibits bets on Virginia college sports, meaning games involving Virginia-based college teams such as UVA or Virginia Tech cannot be offered. College proposition bets are also prohibited statewide.

Does Virginia allow college player prop bets?

No. Virginia law and regulations prohibit proposition wagers on college sports, regardless of whether the college is based in Virginia.

Does Virginia have legal online casino gaming?

No. Regulated real-money online casino gaming is not live in Virginia. A 2026 proposal, SB 118, would have authorized internet gaming but failed to pass from conference on March 14, 2026.

What is the minimum age to bet on sports in Virginia?

21. You must also be physically located inside Virginia when placing an online wager, although Virginia residency is not required.

Official and primary sources used for the 2026 fact check

This page began with the supplied Virginia draft and was refreshed where laws, licenses, casino approvals, or legislative status could change.

• Virginia Lottery - Sports Betting approvals and regulation
• Code of Virginia 58.1-4037 - 15% sports betting tax
• Code of Virginia 58.1-4039 - prohibited events and college betting
• Virginia Lottery - Casino facility operators
• Virginia SB118 - 2026 internet gaming proposal

Fact checked and updated: September 15, 2026.

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