Online Gambling in Virginia in 2024

No one will confuse the Commonwealth of Virginia for Las Vegas, but the Old Dominion State is doing a nice job of bringing legal gambling options to its residents, including a surging online platform. So far, that includes online sports betting, horse racing, lottery games and charitable gambling.

But with all this internet gambling, there is still a lack of legislation for online casino gaming and poker. You can join sports betting sites like FanDuel Sportsbook in Virginia, but the FanDuel Casino is still off-limits in 2024, unlike the top offshore betting sites.

We show you where to find the best offshore gambling sites to find both online sports betting and online casino gaming. We also go over what makes these Virginia sports betting sites the best and the history of gambling laws in the state.

Virginia’s Top-Rated Online Gambling Sites

Our top 10 choices for online gambling sites are all located in Costa Rica, Panama, and Antigua, places where online gambling is perfectly legal. This is why you could join these top-rated offshore sites in Virginia despite the fact that they are not regulated in the U.S.. They do not need to be as they are following the laws of their local jurisdictions. 

1. Bookmaker.eu – Elite sportsbook with earliest lines
2. Heritage Sports – Great cashback programs
3. Bovada – Top choice for poker and prop builder
4. BetOnline – Tons of poker and casino games
5. BetAnySports – Best for lottery games and reduced juice
6. BetUS – Great choice for original gambling content
7. WagerWeb – Top choice for crypto users
8. JustBet – Very good reload bonuses
9. Everygame – Great site design and poker software
10. SportsBetting.ag – BetOnline’s sister site

Can you legally gamble online in Virginia?

Yes, those in Virginia can now use their favorite mobile device to bet on online sportsbooks, bet on horse racing at online betting sites like TVG and TwinSpires, play Daily Fantasy Sports at FanDuel and DraftKings, buy lottery tickets online, and even play some instant win games on the lottery site.

The only forms of gambling that have not been legalized yet for online play are casino games and poker. Most states have been slow to support these games that are more a matter of chance, but you can play them at retail casinos now. Casino laws could change in the near future. 

The legal gambling age is 18 or 21 depending on which gambling activity you want to do.

Comparing the Best Virginia Gambling Sites

We have included an in-depth review of our 10 online gambling sites for Virginia bettors, including the pros and cons of each site.

1. BookMaker: Elite Sportsbook With Earliest Lines

Bookmaker.eu has been around since 1996 in Costa Rica. It has built a reputation for being the site where the line originates as they get out the earliest sports betting lines. This is great value for sharp bettors and anyone looking for good value early in the week.

They do sides and totals betting as well as anyone, but BookMaker also has some unique player props the competition does not. This is the only site on the list where you can bet on an NFL player to not score a touchdown in select games during the season. You can also build same-game parlays, even when betting on college teams.

The casino section lacks a poker room, but there is video poker, other table games, and dozens of slots. The nice thing BookMaker does is add return-to-player (RTP) rate info on each casino game, showing you the average that the player wins back for every $100 bet. The closer it is to 100%, the more profitable the game is in the long run. This is not shown at the other competitor sites.

BookMaker also has a great three-tier reward program where you can earn more cashback and deposit bonuses the higher you move up in the program. There are also some excellent welcome bonuses available as well. 

2. Heritage Sports: Great Cashback Programs

Heritage Sports used to be invite-only, but anyone in Virginia can feel free to join it today. You get a top-notch sportsbook where live betting is always a possibility with the huge amount of international leagues available. 

The sportsbook is also well known for offering reduced juice betting lines (-108 lines) and cashback. You can get cashback on your total betting volume every quarter. You can get daily rebates on the racebook. You can get weekly casino rebates on net losses. The bonus bets can be used anywhere on the site too with no restriction. As you can see, Heritage Sports offers a wide range of opportunities for players to enjoy generous bonuses and perks. 

Heritage Sports does not have a poker room, and it does not have the flashiest or newest casino games available, but every game in the casino has a free-to-try version. This way you can figure out if you like a game before spending a dime on it. They also have plenty of video poker.

The welcome bonus is smaller at Heritage Sports, but the cashback is great for loyal customers who bet here often. You also can get up to $500 in a free birthday parlay, and your eighth deposit is on the house as an average of the previous seven. 

3. Bovada: Top Choice for Poker and Prop Builder

Bovada is home to excellent poker tournaments and cash games on the No. 1 network for online poker players from America. The real advantage found with Bovada’s poker room is the ability to go incognito mode and play at tables anonymously, keeping your playing strategy a mystery for the other players. This is not found at the other competitors. 

The sportsbook is also one of the best in the business with a wide array of sports, leagues, betting markets, live betting opportunities, and arguably the best prop builder in the list.

The casino does not have as many games as BetOnline, but it has more than Bookmaker, and you can get a huge welcome bonus on the casino – try $3,750 in bonus funds over your first three crypto deposits – to get you started in a big way at Bovada. There are also promo codes at Bovada that can unlock additional bonus funds and other perks.

The ongoing promos are lacking a bit for returning users, but that is why you should make use of the reward program where your points will never expire, and you can use them to redeem bonus bets or entries into poker tournaments. 

4. BetOnline: Tons of Poker and Casino Games

BetOnline is a great all-around online gambling site for Virginia users seeking a solid sportsbook experience, a casino loaded with games, an excellent poker room with tournaments and cash games, and a racebook with some of the best daily rebates.

The poker tournaments are outdone only by Bovada from our list. Users can download software and quickly have their choice of tournaments and cash games to play. You also can suggest your own tournament idea to the site.

The casino has hundreds of slots, many of which you will not find elsewhere. Sadly, there are no demo versions to try, but you can play games for very low wagers to try them out first. They also have table games and a live casino with live dealer games.

The welcome bonuses are generous, BetOnline promo codes offer great savings for all bettors, and users can always enjoy a combo of fast payouts and high limits. 

5. BetAnySports: Best for Lottery Games and Reduced Juice

BetAnySports is another A+ graded online casino from Costa Rica. They have a very good sportsbook once you figure out how to navigate the various odds presented on the site. There is the best reduced juice around with -105 lines available for various markets, including college sports. There are also many live betting markets and a wide range of top-notch promos available.

The casino is unique in that there are seven different casinos to try. There is game overlap between them, but each one has its own flavor of game selection for maximum variation. You also can play live dealer games with reasonable table limits.

The lottery section is very unique as you can play the Pick 2, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 either straight or boxed for a variety of different state drawings each day. You can play the Pick 3 and Pick 4 for Virginia’s drawing, for example. Winners get 80% better payouts too.

6. BetUS: Great Choice for Original Gambling Content

BetUS has been around for nearly 30 years, so they have a clue what they are doing in this online gambling industry. They also cater well to fans to help them become better at gambling. This is about the only site in our list where you will find informative guides on blackjack, sports betting, horse racing, and crypto, as well as original content with expert picks on BetUS TV. That is the site’s YouTube channel that has original shows covering just about every sport. 

The casino is also a favorite with a great choice of games and demo versions for all. The welcome bonuses are unique in the way they give you funds to be used in the sportsbook and other amounts to be used in the casino, getting the best of both worlds.

The only downside is the rollover requirements are very high at BetUS, so it is harder to get that bonus money converted into real, withdrawable money before losing it. But BetUS is definitely worth checking out for an all-around gambling experience. 

7. WagerWeb: Top Choice for Crypto Users

WagerWeb does a good job of offering competitive betting lines, esports coverage, a solid racebook, and a casino with plenty of slots, table games, and video poker games. Users can get a 5% casino cashback or a 1% sports betting cashback (based on total betting volume) each Monday, and with no rollover requirement on those bonus funds. 

The model that WagerWeb follows is Heritage Sports, a very good site to emulate. But we prefer the bonuses and promos at Heritage Sports because they are less geared towards crypto users as WagerWeb’s best deals go to those who deposit with Bitcoin or MoneyGram. You also can get your every 10th deposit on the house while it is the eighth at Heritage Sports.

8. JustBet: Very Good Reload Bonuses

Those familiar with online sportsbooks may pick up quickly that JustBet is a more recent sister site creation of Bookmaker.eu, our No. 1 site for online sports betting. The key to Bookmaker’s reputation is putting up the earliest betting odds on the sportsbook, and that edge carries over here to JustBet.

You also get the same reward program, which is an excellent three-tier system where you can get cashback and deposit bonuses. JustBet also will not limit winning players, the limits are high, and the racebook is also very solid.

The casino may not be the best on the list, but there are online slots and table game options there as well as live dealer games with reasonable table limits. 

If we rank JustBet much lower than Bookmaker, that is just because Bookmaker is much more popular and does everything just as well, if not better in the site design department. 

9. Everygame: Great Site Design and Poker Software

Everygame may be one of the lesser-known sportsbook operators, but that is because it was known as Intertops for many years before a rebranding to celebrate its 25th year. From Antigua, Everygame does a very good job of living up to its new name by providing markets for just about every game around. They even have betting markets on the Powerball drawing in America and South Africa.

But the heart of the site is in the casino where games have demo versions and with the poker software where you can play tournaments and cash games. This is one of four choices in our list for online poker players who want poker tournaments. They also have as many video poker games as anyone. You also get to see how great the site design is in these sections as it feels like you are playing at a real casino with good graphics, sound, and a smooth interface.

Everygame is a very good choice for someone looking for an all-around online casino with a little bit of sports betting. The welcome bonus is solid, and they do have bonus bet credits in ongoing promos for returning customers. The promo codes at Everygame can provide bettors with even more value.

10. SportsBetting.ag: BetOnline’s Sister Site

SportsBetting is BetOnline’s sister site. Clearly, the same person developed the names for these sites. But do not let the names fool you. These are very good all-around sites for internet gambling. 

The sportsbook has opinionated lines, a variety of props and betting markets, and it handles live betting well. The casino has a huge selection of slots, table games, and live dealer games. The poker room is right up there with Bovada offering tournament and cash game options. The racebook is also very solid with your first wager on the house ($25 value).

The promotions are generous for new users. The ongoing promos are some of the most fun and unique out there, including bad beat jackpots in poker and bad beat insurance for sports bets like when your NBA team blows a big lead after halftime. 

The only reason we rank SportsBetting lower than BetOnline is that it has less of a reputation in the industry and it does not offer much in the way of innovation from the original BetOnline. 

Our Rating Methodology

We get into our rating methodology in more detail later in the guide, but our criteria are largely valid for judging online sportsbooks, casinos, and racebooks. We do look at more specific things for sportsbook operators like competitive odds or the availability of live dealer games at the casino. But generally speaking, a good gambling site for all forms of gambling will have quality marks in bonuses, customer service, banking methods, mobile site design, etc.

History of Gambling Laws in Virginia

Long before the United States even existed, the territory we know today as Virginia was a hotspot for lotteries, raffles, and horse racing. But the path toward legal gambling was a slow one. Only in 1973 did charitable gambling at bingo halls get legalized. It was in 1987 when voters approved a state lottery, which sold its first ticket a year later.

Around the same time, pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing was approved, but the state would not see the return of betting on live horse races until Colonial Downs racetrack opened in 1997. Eventually, electronic bingo games were introduced in 2007, and Virginia became the first state to pass a bill for Daily Fantasy Sports in 2016, requiring DraftKings and FanDuel to pay a licensing fee to operate in the state under supervision. 

But 2018 was when everything changed for gambling in the United States and especially in Virginia. That was the year the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, which allowed states to legalize sports betting if they wanted. First, Virginia started allowing users to buy lottery tickets online. Two years later in 2020, they approved iLottery instant win games that act like casino games that users can win real money on with their online account using the lottery site or app.

Meanwhile, legislators were hard at work creating a sports betting bill, which was passed and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam in 2020. Soon, legal sports betting operators were in business in January 2021 in Virginia. 

In 2020 and 2021, votes were held to decide if five cities would have brick-and-mortar casinos. Richmond declined by a narrow margin, but the cities of Bristol, Portsmouth, Danville, and Norfolk all approved the construction of casinos in retail locations. The temporary casino for Bristol opened in 2022 and the state’s first permanent casino opened at Rivers Casino Portsmouth in January 2023. Suddenly, Virginia has a live casino with a poker room and table games.

Gambling activity is clearly on the rise in the Old Dominion State. Advance Deposit Wagering is legal for horse racing at licensed sites like TVG, TwinSpires, and Xpressbet. The legal gambling industry is thriving in five years, but Virginia bettors are still waiting for legislation on online casino games and poker. This is the case in most states right now, but things are moving in the right direction on the legal gambling front. 

Virginia’s Gambling Timeline

The following timeline shows significant events in the push for legal gambling in Virginia:

• January 2023: Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens as Virginia’s first major brick-and-mortar casino.  
• July 2022: A temporary casino spot is opened for the Bristol Casino with a permanent location set to launch in summer 2024.
• November 2021: Voters in Richmond vote down the construction of a casino in their city, but the plans for the other four casinos are still good to go.
• January 2021: Online sports wagering begins in the state with many of the top licensed online sportsbooks available.
• November 2020: Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth all approve the construction of commercial casinos in their cities.   
• 2020: Sports betting law is approved and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam. iLottery games go live during COVID on the Virginia Lottery site, allowing users to play casino-style games legally on the app and site. 
• 2019: Historical horse racing machines are approved for use in Virginia, and they become an unexpectedly big hit.
• 2018: A mobile app launches to allow Virginia lottery players the chance to buy tickets online.
• 2018: The Supreme Court overturns PASPA, allowing each state to have the right to choose to legalize sports betting.
• 2016: Virginia is the first state to pass a law overseeing Daily Fantasy Sports in the state.
• 2007: Electronic bingo games are approved for the first time.
• 1997: Colonial Downs racetrack is opened, bringing the return of live horse racing and betting back to the state.
• 1996: Charitable gaming oversight is given to the Commonwealth instead of local government after some inadequacies.  
• 1989: The Virginia Racing Commission is created to oversee pari-mutuel betting for horse racing in the state. 
• 1987: A state lottery is approved, and the first ticket is sold in 1988.
• 1973: Virginia legalizes charitable gaming at bingo halls.

Virginia’s Legal Gambling Age

The legal gambling age for Virginia residents depends on which type of gambling they want to do. If you are betting on horse racing or playing the lottery, then the minimum gambling age is only 18 years old. But if you want to visit a land-based casino where alcohol is served, then you better have proof of age that you are at least 21 as that is the age limit for those establishments.

Key Features of the Best Gambling Sites

In the following sections, we are digging into the grading criteria that help us determine the best online gambling sites no matter if we are focused on sportsbook operators, racebook providers, or casino game sites. 

Competitive Betting Lines

In the sportsbook, some sites can do a great job of creating an advantage by offering reduced juice – lines of -105 or -108 instead of the standard -110 lines. This is why users like to make an account with various sportsbooks as you can often find some great prices at different sites for the same pick. A good sports bettor will shop around before placing that wager to make sure they are getting the best price. 

Wide Variety of Betting Markets

The best way for an online gambling site to keep your business is to offer as many betting markets as possible for each section of the site:

• Sportsbooks: props, parlays, round-robin betting, live bets, and more on many sports and leagues from around the world.
• Casinos: poker, video poker, slots, table games, specialty games (keno), etc.
• Racebook: win/place/show bets and exotic wagers from dozens of tracks from around the world.
• Other coverage: esports markets, contests (free and paid), virtual racing games, etc. 

Multiple Banking Methods

The best thing an online gambling site can do with banking methods is to offer a wide variety for both deposits and withdrawals. That could mean traditional methods (credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, checks) and newer payment methods (eWallets, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin, etc.). We also make note of a site’s processing time for the various methods, and if there is a fee involved. Crypto is usually the fastest and free option for transactions. 

Promo Codes & Bonuses

Who does not love bonus money? Right off the bat, you use a promo code to join one of these sites, you make your initial deposit, and just like that you can get a lot of bonus money to use on the site. Just be sure to read about the rollover requirement and terms of the sign-up bonus, because those bet credits usually have an expiration date and some restrictions on how to use them. 

That is why the best promos may be the ongoing promos for loyal users who keep coming back. This could be in the form of reload bonuses, sports betting bonuses, risk-free bets that give you bonus bet credits on the sportsbook, or a good refer-a-friend or loyalty program to earn more perks.

Live Gambling Available

Whether it is live betting on the sportsbook or live dealer games in the casino, any top-tier online gambling site will have these live features. They are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, and live sports betting is especially a huge area with great potential for fans who like to bet as they follow along with the games. 

Quality of the User Interface

To get the best online experience possible with a gambling site, you should be able to easily deposit money, go from section to section in the sportsbook and casino with precise navigation, and place your bets in quick fashion. The casino should also be vibrant in colors and have good sound and graphics to mimic playing at a real casino. 

Mobile Site Quality

Many people use their mobile devices to access these online gambling sites now, so it is important to have an optimized site that looks good on a small screen, runs lag-free, and can handle high-traffic times like right before a big sports event. 

Customer Service Options

Sometimes a gambler needs help with their account. A good customer service team is vital, and a way to contact them 24/7 is always most appreciated. There should be a wide variety of contact options, including live chat, email, phone number, or just sending a message through the site with the ability to add attachments. 

Site’s Security & Safety Features

When you log in to an online gambling site, the padlock icon next to the URL is telling you your data is encrypted through a secure connection to the site. You will see this with a trustworthy site. We only recommend sites that have a longstanding reputation in the gambling industry, because we feel we can trust them to protect your sensitive user data shared with them. 

Online Sports Betting in Virginia

Online sports betting started legally in Virginia in January 2021. Many of the top online sportsbooks (FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, PointsBet, etc.) are available. You also can join offshore sites like BookMaker and Bovada if you want to expand your gambling activity to include casino games. 

Online Casino Gambling in Virginia

When it comes to online casinos, Virginia bettors are not as lucky as sports bettors. No law has been passed yet to legalize online casino gaming in the state. If you want to play slot machines, poker or other table games, you will have to join offshore casinos or visit the land-based casinos in the state.

With so much legal gambling activity online now in the state of Virginia, it could only be a matter of time before there is a legal platform for online casino gambling. 

Virginia’s State Lottery

The Virginia lottery was approved in 1987 and sold its first ticket in 1988. The lottery started selling online tickets in 2018, and you can now play instant win games similar to casino games on the Virginia Lottery site or app. Virginians are also able to play multi-state draw games like Cash4Life, Powerball, and Mega Millions in addition to the several daily state drawings. 

All the lottery profit in Virginia goes to the K-12 public education fund, which has raised over $14.5 billion since it started. 

Social Gambling in Virginia

Social gambling such as poker games in private residences is fine in Virginia as long as no one takes a cut for hosting the game. This is how the laws work for casual poker in most states. Just do not invite random strangers and charge them a fee to play in your games and it will be fine.

Charitable Gambling in Virginia

Charitable gambling was first legalized in Virginia back in 1973 as bingo halls were allowed to hold games. Due to inadequate oversight, in 1995, regulation of charitable gaming was switched from local government to the Commonwealth. 

However, recent developments with charitable gambling in the state have again brought the oversight into question. In 2020, charitable games of Texas Hold’em poker were approved, but they have been shut down a few times as the state debates how to handle this as a legal form of gambling for charity. 

Daily Fantasy Sports in Virginia

Back in 2016, Virginia became the first state to pass a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) law. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe signed the bill into law, which helped add state-led oversight into the growing DFS markets. This was of course a big win and validation for DraftKings and FanDuel, the two leading companies in the DFS market. 

Today, Virginia is one of over 40 states to offer DFS wagering at top sports betting sites. Many other states have passed their own version of a law to support DFS. 

How to Create an Online Gambling Account

The sign-up process for online betting sites is quite simple. No matter which site you choose, it should only take about four steps to start gambling in minutes. Below, we will walk you through the step-by-step instructions for creating your account. 

Step 1. Sign-Up

Visit the site you wish to join and start the sign-up process by clicking on the link that says “join” or “register.” Be ready to come up with a unique password that you are not using elsewhere to use for your new gambling account. Make sure you pick a different password for each online sports betting site you join.

Step 2. Verify Your Details

Verify that all your personal information is correct. This includes your full name, address, email address and phone number.

Step 3. Deposit Funds

You will have to fund your account with one of the numerous deposit options. But before you do that, make sure to read about the sign-up bonus for new users so you can maximize the bonus funds you receive as that is usually related to your initial deposit amount. Make sure that you meet any minimum deposit requirements. 

Step 4. Start Gambling

With a verified, funded account, you are ready to start gambling. Head to the racebook or the sportsbook or the casino and start playing your favorite games. Remember to have fun and do not bet more than you can afford to lose. 

FAQs – Gambling Online in Virginia