Online Sportsbooks in
Virginia
Virginia has broken its conservative stance towards gambling by legalizing online sports betting in 2021.
Virginia has broken its conservative stance towards gambling by legalizing online sports betting in 2021.
Online sports betting legal in Virginia
The New York-based company began life as a daily fantasy sports provider but now can claim to be the country's most popular sportsbook. According to BettingScanner, it enjoys the second highest brand awareness rate in the US (41%), and the highest number of active users of any sports betting site.
DraftKings is the largest fantasy sports operator in the US. Since 2018, they have established themselves as one of the country's most successful online sportsbooks. According to BettingScanner's 2020 survey, DraftKings can boast the country's highest brand awareness at 44%.
The company began its storied and glamorous existence under the bright lights of Las Vegas launching its online sportsbook in 2018.
In 2021, Caesars Entertainment bought William Hill, a move that sent shockwaves through the sports betting world. The British bookmaker is arguably the strongest betting brand globally and boasted a burgeoning sportsbook product in the US. However, initial scepticism over how Caesars' acquisition of such a mega-brand would play out has been resolutely quashed after the merger produced a superior product that appears to have benefited both parties.
This new-look Caesars Sportsbook has catapulted the company up our rankings. Previously it had only been active in two states and appeared to be struggling to compete with other big names such as FanDuel, DraftKings, but now the sportsbook has grown significantly in size and stature.
Read full reviewBettingScanner's Verdict: 8/10
Unibet belongs to Kindred Group - an online gambling operator based in Malta. Unibet launched its website in 1999. The Company now has offices in the UK, US, Italy, Australia as well as many others.
BetRivers was a brick and mortar casino than transitioned to online gambling after the PASPA ruling in 2018. It has since grown into one of the largest online sportsbooks in the US.
The Old Dominion became the 21st state in the US to legalize sports betting.
Virginia passed a bill on the 8th of March 2020 which would allow for in-person and online sports betting.
As of January 2021 online sports betting went live, with FanDuel being granted special permission to launch first as it was partnered with the Washington Football Team.
Bet on sports online ✔
Register with a sportsbook online ✔
Deposit & withdraw funds with a sportsbook online ✔
Wager on NCAA college teams ✘
(this does not apply to tournaments involving VA teams that include other college basketball teams)
Here are your most commonly asked questions regarding online sports betting in Virginia.
Yes. Online sports betting is now legal in the state of Virginia. FanDuel, sponsors of the Washington Football Team was the first online sportsbook to launch in the state.
Yes. There are now a number of legal and licensed online sportsbooks live in the state of Virginia. They include:
You must be 21 years old or older to wager online in the state of Virginia.
You will need to provide legal proof of ID when you sign up to a sportsbook registered in the state to show that you meet the age requirement.
Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook is live in the state of Virginia. Due the company's partnership with the Washington Football Team, FanDuel was allowed to be the first online sportsbook to launch in the state.
The state's gambling is overseen by The Virginia Lottery which places a number of regulations on online sportsbooks licensed in the state.
As a customer, you will need to be 21 years of age or older and provide the following:
You must also be situated within state borders to place a wager.
There are now a number of legal and licensed online sportsbooks in the state of Virginia. They include:
When the US legalized sports betting at the federal level in 2018, very few people expected Virginia would be among the first states to consider legalizing sports betting.
Now in 2022, the Old Dominion is set to become a sports betting hub.
The 'big two' sportsbooks, FanDuel and DraftKings have already set up shop in the state, which comes as no surprise considering it's home to 8.5 million people. The two daily fantasy sports and sports betting giants are almost always the first sportsbooks to set up in any new state that comes online. Just a weeks head start, can give one of them a huge competitive advantage in a newly legalizes state. In Virginia's case, it is FanDuel that is already leading the pack, having been given a head start by the State Lottery due to its sponsorship of The Washington Football Team.
The fierce rivalry between the two companies and the high-level stakes has resulted in two excellent products with very little separating them in terms of quality or value.
The good news does not end there. BetMGM, the digital sports betting arm of MGM resorts - and the nation's third-largest sportsbook have also gone live in the state. The mega-brand has endeared itself to local MLB fans by sponsoring the Washington Nationals.
You will not find a much easier location to set up an online sportsbook account than the state of Virginia.
One reason for this is that the state did not have any existing bricks and mortar casinos and therefore could not enforce a law that exists in many other states which requires any new sportsbook to partner with an existing physical casino or sportsbook. This regulation can often lead to stipulations such as in-person sign-ups like in Illinois and even in-person deposits and withdrawals as you can find in Nevada. These regulations are usually intended to protect the local brands.
Since there was no existing market the sports betting market began online and therefore everything is designed for an online sign-up and mobile wagering.
Of course, the sign-up process can vary between sportsbooks but generally, you will need to complete the following steps:
Virginia is home to a burgeoning sports betting market with a number of high-profile licensed online sportsbooks. This means that the competition is high and sportsbooks will not want to allow their competitors to gain any sort of edge.
This means that the odds offered are not only very high value but they are pretty even across the board. There are a number of odds comparisons sites that make it very easy to see if there are odds that stand out. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will find odds that vary greatly between sportsbooks.
That being said, there are of course small differences in the value offered between sportsbooks that over time build up and can make it worthwhile backing a sportsbook that offers slightly better margins.
As it currently stands, the team at BettingScanner have highlighted FanDuel as the sportsbook which consistently offers the best value odds, especially for the NFL, which is the most popular sport in the state of Virginia.
FanDuel was the first online sportsbook to launch in the state, thanks to its lucrative deal with the Washington Football Team. The sportsbook has since established itself as a market leader and so it comes as no surprise that it also offers the best odds in the state.
FanDuel on average offers the best odds across the board. However, when it comes to NFL events, and in particular games including The Washington Football Team then you can find some very high-value odds. If your a football fan then we recommend you sign-up to FanDuel.
It is not just the quality of odds we are after but also the quantity and in this department, FanDuel edges past its main rival DraftKings. Whether it is the Super Bowl or the Ukrainian Premier League, FanDuel has you covered!
There are some truly awesome welcome promos available right now in Virginia.
This is because Virginia is a new market and the priority for sportsbooks will be trying to pick up as many new customers as possible. Statistics show that once you pick your sportsbook and have placed a wager, you are unlikely to change to another product. This means that a generous welcome bonus is an effective marketing ploy that sportsbooks can utilize to secure your sign-up.
These welcome bonuses come in three main categories:
Deposit Bonus → This type of promo matches your initial deposit in the form of bonus bets. There will be a minimum (usually $10) and a maximum (between $250 - $2,000) required to qualify for your deposit bonus. So, for example, a $500 deposit will get you $500 in bonus bets. You are almost always only allowed one deposit bonus.
Second Chance Bet Bonus → This type of bonus acts as a form of insurance on your first wager. Again, there will be a minimum and a maximum wager requirement. If you place a bet and win then the bet is treated as a normal wager and you can collect your winnings. If, however, you lose your wager, then you will receive your original wager back in the form of bonus bets.
No Deposit Bonus → This is the ultimate form of bonus as it requires no financial commitment from your side. You simply need to sign-up, collect your bonus and place a wager. You do not need to place a deposit. Of course, considering this as close to free money as you can get, the amounts offered will be much lower than the other types of bonuses.
Online sports betting is now legal in the US; but risky illegal offshore sportsbooks are still lurking around. We explain how you can stay safe when betting in Virginia. Read more
With a population of 8.5 million, Virginia is a relatively attractive market, especially considering it has four professional sports teams. The low tax rate is another reason for sportsbooks to launch in the state.
The 'big-two', Fanduel and DraftKings have now firmly established leaders but that is no exception. The two brands dominate the market in every other state which allows multiple online sportsbooks to apply for a license.
BetMGM is slowly but surely cementing itself as the next-most dominant sportsbook, so it comes as no surprise that they are also live in the state.
We expect that there will be a number of sportsbooks interested in launching a Virginia based product in late 2021 and early 2022. These include:
Barstool Sportsbook → The digital media company launched its sportsbook product in late 2020. They chose Pennsylvania as the first state to go live in, but have since aggressively expanded its operations into other states. As of March 2021, they have been approved to launch in VA.
PointsBet Sportsbook → The Aussie sportsbook offers a unique form of points betting that has proven incredibly popular in the US. The brand has taken the nation by storm, launching in a number of high profile states, including New Jersey, Illinois and Colorado. They have not yet been cleared for a launch but looking at the company's track record we don't see it being long before they are up and running in Virginia.
The Washington Football Team train in Richmond, Virginia
Virginia is one of the smaller states in terms of population so you could say it punches above its weight when it comes to professional sports.
The locations of Washington along Virginia's border makes it a little difficult to define what is a Virginian team. However here are the teams that are located near to, or partially within state borders.
The Washington Football Team → The NFL team currently train in Ashburn, Virginia. They currently play at the FexExField near the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County in Maryland. However, the football team are now looking for a new location to move to, and various options, including Dulles, in Virginia are being considered. FanDuel are currently sponsors of the Washington Football team.
The Washington Nationals → The MLB team currently play at the National Parks in Washington D.C. but are the most popular baseball team in the state of Virginia. The Nationals are currently sponsored by BetMGM.
The Washington Capitals → The NHL team play at the Capital One Arena in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Washington D.C. The team are currently sponsored by British Sportsbook Operator William Hill.
The Washington Wizards → The NBA team also play at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. The wizards are also sponsored by William Hill.