Virginia

Virginia joined the legal sports betting market in early 2021, and bettors can access a wide range of mobile betting apps or visit four retail betting facilities throughout the state.

The rules surrounding betting on college sports in Virginia require extra attention from bettors in the state. The biggest of these rules is that bettors cannot wager on in-state college, even if they are playing in a big tournament. Additionally, prop bets on college athletes are strictly prohibited, and that goes for all college athletes, not just the members of Virginia-based universities.

Other betting markets unavailable in VA include greyhound racing, politics, and eSports contests. On the bright side, the option to bet on horse races in person or through racebooks is available, as is the ability to download and use big-name daily fantasy sports apps.

Online Sports Betting in Old Dominion

Soon after PASPA was overturned in 2018, the Virginia Senate commissioned a study to investigate the revenue the state could make from legalizing sports betting. The study's results showed that legalization would be highly lucrative for the state, so two sports betting bills, SB 384 and HB 896, were passed by April 2020.

Legal sports betting would see the light of day in Virginia in January 2021. While the state’s sports betting bill would allow for both mobile and retail wagering, because VA did not have any casinos prior to the bill being passed, residents’ first taste of sports betting came strictly from online sportsbooks.

After some provisions were made to the initial sports betting bill, it was determined that 18 online sportsbooks could operate in the state at once, thanks to the licensing landscape. While 18 are allowed in the market, as we progress into 2025, 11 mobile sports betting apps are currently available to VA bettors.

The market landscape enables bettors to secure the best odds and promotions, granting them access to prominent names in online sports betting. These include Bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, BetRivers, Caesars, FanDuel, and many others. Three of these operators have partnerships with retail casinos, while the fourth, Headwaters Casino, has yet to announce a partner. This indicates that another operator could enter the market at some point in 2025.

According to a slide show presentation from a meeting of the Virginia Lottery Board in January 2025, Fanduel and DraftKings dominate the VA sports betting market with 39.2% and 28.6% market shares, respectively. After the "big two," the gap is huge as BetMGM holds the number three spot with a 10.8% share. All the rest of the betting app operators, such as Bet365 (5.5%), Caesars (5.1%), ESPN Bet (3.8%), and Fanatics Sportsbook (2.2%), have to settle for low single-digit shares.

All legal VA sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

Recently Closed Online Sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in VA

The Virginia Lottery enforces sports betting regulations in VA. One of those rules includes the legal age to place a sports wager, which is currently set at 21. Virginia sports bettors have the benefit of remote registration, so they are not restricted to a retail facility just to create a mobile betting account. All the mobile betting apps in VA can be downloaded on Android or Apple devices and accessed from anywhere inside the state.

When using one of the aforementioned mobile betting apps, bettors should be aware of the tax rate on their winnings on those apps. The tax rate a bettor is subject to depends on their income, as all gambling winnings in VA are considered taxable income. The lowest rate an individual may be subject to is 2%, while the highest tax rate in the state is 5.75%.

Over the past few years, lawmakers have attempted to pass bills that would allow bettors to wager on in-state colleges, but these attempts have been unsuccessful. Regardless of the success of these bills, the state will continue to add to its betting legislation, which could result in a conversation about iGaming, which remains illegal in VA.

Suffolk’s Peanut Festival Betting Ideas That Could Shell-Shock the State

Virginia’s annual Peanut Festival is a celebration of agriculture, local pride, and, of course, the peanut. For as great as these festivals can be, there is always room for improvement, and that improvement may be gambling. Imagine placing friendly wagers on who eats the most peanuts in a minute or who cracks the most shells in a timed contest. These prop bets could turn festival-goers into active participants while giving festival vendors another way to drive excitement and foot traffic.

Contests like peanut shell sculptures already draw enthusiastic competitors, and with strict judging criteria such as creativity and structure,, we believe these events are primed for gamification. 

To get things “cracking” on this market, Virginia would need to open the door to regulated novelty betting. Fun, quirky, and perfectly tailored to Virginia’s peanut heritage, betting on shell-based showdowns may be just the kind of lighthearted, local-first entertainment that gives the state’s betting industry a fresh, flavorful twist.

Could Virginia’s College quidditch teams ever inspire a betting market?

Quidditch, once a fictional sport from the Harry Potter series, has gained a real-world presence, especially among college teams in Virginia. With organized leagues, competitive matches, and even national championships, could this electric and full-contact sport develop into a niche betting market?

While mainstream sportsbooks currently focus on traditional college sports like football and basketball, novelty betting categories have gained traction over the years. With options like esports, drone racing, and even competitive eating available for wagers, Quidditch could follow suit. The sport’s unpredictable gameplay, unique scoring system, and niche yet passionate fanbase create an ideal environment for potential betting odds.

However, the biggest hurdles will be gaining regulatory approval and formal recognition as a professional sport. If quidditch continues to grow in Virginia’s and other states' collegiate scenes, it may not be long before sportsbooks begin offering odds on the next snitch catch.

Most recent updates from the VA sports betting scene

• March 10, 2025: The A10 Tournament bracket is set, and the VCU Rams are favored to win the title at (-120).

• February 25, 2025: With four games remaining in the regular season, the VCU Rams are (-320) to win the A10 Regular Season Title.

• February 4, 2025: With a 17-5 record, the VCU Rams are (-110) to make the NCAA Tournament.

• January 29, 2025: The Virginia Cavaliers will enter the college baseball season priced at (+1500) to win the College World Series.

• January 22, 2025: Virginia lawmakers consider establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission to regulate all gambling except the lottery. The commission would oversee gaming laws while horse racing and charitable gaming committees remain intact.

• December 17, 2024: The Caesars Casino in Danville, Virginia has officially opened it's doors to the public. The casino features over 1,500 slots and a sportsbook.

• December 6, 2024: The Liberty Flames will be playing Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl. The Flames are (-3.5) point favorites.

• November 26, 2024: In the battle for the Commonwealth Cup, the UVA Cavaliers are (+7.5) point underdogs to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

• November 19, 2024: As they look to secure bowl eligibility, the Virginia Cavaliers are set to host SMU as (+9.5) point underdogs.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

One key provision in Virginia’s sports betting law is that retail betting is legal, but it is to be limited to just three land-based casinos in the state. Additionally, the cities where these casinos were to be located needed to pass a referendum that would allow them to open, which is why VA currently only has four casinos instead of five.

Richmond was the lone city to vote against opening a casino, leaving Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth as the four casino locations. However, the plans regarding Norfolk’s HeadWaters Resort & Casino have faced some setbacks, and it’s currently unclear when or if this casino could open for the public.

While most states also require mobile operators to partner with retail locations, that is not the case in Virginia, as these casinos can partner with an online operator or open their own sportsbook.

Busch Gardens Roller Coaster Scream Tracker: Bet on Which Ride Hits the Decibel Record First

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is famous for more than just world-class coasters; it also hosts some of the most glorious, gut-wrenching screams on the East Coast. But what if the decibel levels of those screams from roller coasters became bettable? 

Enter the Busch Gardens Scream Tracker, a unique betting concept that allows fans to wager on which roller coaster, Apollo’s Chariot, Griffon, or Verbolten,  will reach the highest decibel level on any given day. A live leaderboard could help make this market trackable, especially during school field trip Fridays.

With on-ride microphones and mobile sportsbook integration, this could become a seasonal micro-betting favorite. It’s loud, it’s strange, and it’s a good representation of one of the best attractions in the state. In a world where you can already bet on darts and reality TV, why not place a wager on absolute coaster chaos? The screams will come either way, so someone might as well profit from them. Especially if you’re someone who hates roller coasters but wants to get something out of them.

Wagering on shells: Exploring oyster shuck-off betting potential in Virginia

At Virginia’s celebrated coastal oyster festivals, such as those in Urbanna or Chincoteague,  shucking isn’t just a seafood necessity; it’s a spectacle and an art form. Competitive oyster shuck-offs have become fan-favorite events, pitting pros and daring amateurs against the clock with nothing but a glove, a special knife, and a bunch of tightly shut shells. But could these oyster shucking champs become the focal point of a betting market?

By integrating novelty prop betting into these festivals, Virginia could tap into a lucrative niche entertainment market. Fans could wager on outcomes like “Fastest Shuck Time,” “Cleanest Oyster Presentation,” or other head-to-head battles. With clear judging, time-based metrics, and visual appeal, oyster shucking clears all the hurdles for becoming a legitimate betting experience.

Assuming just 0.05% of Virginia’s annual betting handle came from food-based novelty markets like these, it could generate over $2.5 million in wagers and thousands more in additional tax revenue. That’s funding that could support coastal communities, festival expansion, or oyster reef restoration. Protecting local waterways while shedding light on the talent that is oyster shucking seem like good enough reasons for Virginia to consider a market like this.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Virginia is part of a large section of states that all offer legalized sports betting in some fashion. While some surrounding states only offer mobile or retail betting and not both, Virginia residents can still venture into any of their five neighboring states and place a legal bet.

Click on the states in the box below to read more about their gambling regulations and offerings.

Sports betting revenue impact on Virginia's economy

Virginia sports betting legislation allows for 18 licenses to be granted in total. There are 12 online-only licenses, five casino licenses, and one license for a professional sports organization in VA.

These licenses last three years, and they cost sportsbooks $250,000 once they are approved for one. All of these sportsbooks also have a 15% tax rate on revenue, which has resulted in the state accumulating over $236 million in tax income since sports betting was launched in 2021.

Regarding the total amount of handle, revenue, and tax income accumulated since legalizing sports betting, Virginia is in the top ten states in all three categories. Since they launched sports betting in 2021, only six states, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, and Ohio, have produced more tax revenue than Virginia, and their position inside the top ten of all three categories likely isn't changing anytime soon.

The best thing about the VA online betting market is that, according to the figures, it continues to grow year over year. In 2024, the total betting handle, revenue, and tax income exceeded the previous year's numbers by a mile: 24%, 22%, and 28%, respectively.

Virginia sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: November 2024 ($760,965,450)

• Revenue: January 2025 ($87,381,242)

• Tax income: January 2025 ($12,137,426)

Latest VA sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

• Total betting handle: $556,836,877

  • Mobile betting handle: $553,017,829

  • Retail betting handle: $3,819,048

• Winnings paid to players: $490,030,262

  • Hold: 12.00%

  • Gross winnings from online betting: $486,435,773

  • Gross winnings from retail wagering: $3,594,489

• Gross revenue: $66,806,615

  • Allowable bonuses and promotions: $0

  • Other deductions: $4,895,142

• Adjusted (taxable) total revenue: $61,911,473

• Tax revenue for the state: $9,303,968

Reported by the Virginia Lottery.

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

VA sports betting revenue in 2025

The following table shows the monthly reported data from the Virginia Lottery from 2025, including total handle, betting revenue, state's tax income, as well as the percentage regarding how the first two have changed compared to the previous month.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Forging a new betting industry for Virginia: Williamsburg’s blacksmith contests as a revenue stream

Colonial Williamsburg attracts over half a million visitors each year, and integrating sports betting could turn its blacksmithing competitions into a money maker for the state. Barring legalization, sportsbooks could introduce odds on the fastest metalwork, best-forged weapons, and most historically accurate creations, driving new seasonal and novelty betting markets.

If just 0.5% of Virginia’s $5 billion annual sports betting handle came from blacksmithing wagers, it could add $25 million in bets, generating $5 million+ in tax revenue at Virginia’s 20% tax rate. By expanding into historical and niche event wagering, Virginia could vastly diversify its betting portfolio, ensuring year-round profitability and tapping into a market that no other state has ventured into. 

A state-sponsored event could boost heritage tourism, attract craftsmanship enthusiasts, and increase foot traffic in Williamsburg. With the creation of history-themed betting markets, Virginia could blend culture with commerce, formulating a highly unique betting experience while maximizing state tax income.