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Best Sports Betting Sites in Virginia

Top 3 VA Sportsbooks
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Tim E
Authorities in Virginia haven't always support VA sports betting. When the Supreme Court repealed the PASPA in 2018, several states quickly came up with regulations legalizing and controlling the practice of gambling within months. However, long deliberations among Virginian lawmakers endured that any legal action was delayed for over 2 years, even though referendums showed that the people wanted betting legalized. Nonetheless, people have been able to bet since 2021.

Online sports betting in VA is super competitive, given the number of platforms operating in the state. The state's laws on gambling are commendable and unique. Unlike several states that issue one or a few licenses for online sports betting services, the state opened it up to many participants.

Here we review online sports betting sites and online sportsbooks in Virginia, answering any questions you may have.

List of the Best Virginia Betting Sites

If you're curious about the best online sportsbook VA, you need to understand the right considerations to make. The best Virginian betting sites provide a great user experience through numerous features and options designed to offer value for your time. Knowing these sites will allow you to make informed decisions when you're ready to play your favourite games.

Here we give a rundown of the best Virginia sports betting sites:

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VA Bonus Betting Deals & Offers

Betting companies issue promotional offers to boost players' betting balances and increase their winning chances. These bonuses exist in various forms, with differing terms and requirements:

Deposit Bonus

The deposit bonus aims to boost the capital wagerers who can make bets. Virginia online sports betting companies often offer the deposit bonus as a percentage of whatever amount the punter deposits, ranging from 10% to 200%.

Various forms of deposit bonuses exist. For instance, the Welcome Deposit Bonus is exclusively designed for new bettors that just signed on to the bookmaker's platform. On the other hand, the Reload Deposit Bonus is meant for existing customers.

Sign Up Bonus

Online sports betting companies in Virginia offer a sign-up or welcome bonus to attract new bettors and make their first-time betting experience more enjoyable.

100% up to $600
New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
Cash Rebate Bonus: Enjoy up to 25% Cash
-
100% up to $500
New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.

Virginia betting sites require that bettors fulfil different requirements before taking advantage of these bonuses.

The most popular option is the deposit bonus, where players must deposit some funds into their betting accounts, after which the VA sportsbook app will credit them an extra amount. This additional amount is often a percentage of the deposited fund.

FanDuel has one of the most attractive sign-up bonuses for Virginian wagerers. They get 100% of their first bet amount, thus, doubling their stake value. It translates to much larger profits if the bet is a win.

Free Bets

Generally, this type of bet doesn't require fulfilling any stringent conditions. Unlike the deposit bonus, which requires committing some funds into the account before accessing the betting deal, bookmakers give the free bet generously without requiring deposits. Bettors only need to make wagers with the free amount, and they can cash out the funds if they turn out as winnings.

One of the leading free bets offers Caesar Sportsbook, a risk-free package of $1,500.

Occasional Bonuses

Companies that offer legal sports betting in Virginia also offer periodic promotional deals asides from the conventional ones we've discussed here. These occasional offerings may be in the form of betting credits, higher odds than normal, raffles, competitions where bettors win huge prizes, etc.

When bonuses such as these are announced, they're often only available to wagerers that take advantage of them. So, you should always be on the lookout.

What to Know About Betting Deals

There are no standard terms and conditions for the deposit bonus. Check your sportsbook to confirm. The most important terms to consider are the wagering or turnover requirement, the minimum odds at which you're expected to make bets before being allowed to withdraw the odds and the validity period for the bonus.

Choose Your Bet of the Day in Virginia

Thanks to its relatively large size, Virginia is a top sporting state in the US, with lots of its teams featuring in leading events and competitions on the national scene. Locally, the state is also a beehive of sporting activities. Online sportsbooks in Virginia make it possible to wager on these sporting types, teams, and events seamlessly.

WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?

Bet on Sport

When it comes to sporting choices, Virginians appear unique in their preferences. Unlike several states in the US, football is the most popular game in Virginia, even though it doesn't feature any team in the National Football League (NFL).

Other ranking sporting types include basketball, baseball, hockey and some level of soccer. With all the interests they have, it only makes sense that Virginian sports lovers be able to bet on their favourite sports. Top VA sports betting apps make that happen.

Bet on Competitions

Across the various sports types, multiple competitions present wagering opportunities. These competitions should typically include those played within the state and others in which Virginia-based teams participate.

However, betting companies don't typically feature the local competitions played within the state. It is because they aren't as popular as the national ones.

Nonetheless, the state's teams feature among top nationwide competitors. Thankfully, online sportsbooks in VA provide access to more of these competitions since the followers of the national tournaments go beyond Virginians and spread nationwide.

Bet on Tournaments

Virginia holds the unfortunate record of being the most populous state that doesn't possess any major sports league franchise playing locally.

Nonetheless, it features many teams playing across various second-tier and lower leagues. These tournaments include the USL Championship for Soccer, USA Rugby League, the American Basketball Association, and the National Premier Soccer League.

These tournaments are well covered across several Virginia sports betting apps, giving you sufficient wagering opportunities.

Bet on Teams

Although they are mostly limited to the lower leagues, Virginia teams still thrive in different national sports. Top names include Richmond Elite in basketball, Richmond Black Widows in football, Norfolk Admirals in hockey, Northern Virginia Eagles and Old Glory DC in rugby, Loudoun United in soccer, etc.

In collegiate sports, Virginia also spots active teams like George Mason, James Madison, Emory and Henry, Bridgewater, etc., playing across the different NCAA divisions.

Since they're in national competitions, there are higher chances that you will find games played by these teams on the Virginia sports betting sites of your choice.

Unlike other states, Virginia hasn't been fully supporting gambling. Generally, every form of betting used to be illegal in the United States due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 1992, which applied wide-scale prohibitions to gambling activities. However, the Supreme Court repealed it in March 2018, allowing state authorities to ban or authorize gambling within their territory.

In March 2020, both legislative houses agreed on a bill to regulate sports betting in Virginia.

VA Sports Betting Bill

Virginia Senate Bill 384 and House Bill 896 were harmonized to create a single legislative bill controlling online sports betting in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery was appointed as the sole regulator and was permitted to give licenses to online and offline sportsbooks willing to establish and operate within the state.

It wasn't until January 2021 that online sports betting eventually took off in Virginia, with FanDuel being the first online bookmaker to launch in the state.

Terms of the VA sports betting bill prohibit wagering on collegiate sports in Virginia. Thus, Virginian bettors are not allowed to place bets on any Virginian collegiate sports team and the games they play.

Then, Virginians are not allowed to bet on any political events, either those held within the state or elsewhere. The same rule applies to entertainment events like the Oscar Awards.

Sports Gambling Taxes in VA

If any Virginian records tax profits above $600, federal taxes of up to 24% will apply. Nonetheless, if the person has a huge record of previous losses, they can use it to offset their winnings, which means they will pay fewer taxes.

Nonetheless, at the state level, bettors are expected to pay between 2% and 5.75% of their winnings, depending on the value.

What Is the Sports Gambling Age in Virginia?

Adults aged 21 years and above are legally permitted to wager on sporting events in Virginia. They can finalise the sign-up process for any Virginia online sports betting sites from anywhere within the state, so remote registration and betting are permitted. Alternatively, they can visit any licensed retail outlets to undergo registration.

How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Virginia

Choosing the best bookmakers in Virginia is not difficult if you know what to look out for. The leading sportsbook in the state has some distinguishing features, and all you need to do is select your desired bookmaker based on those qualities.

Those factors include:

Competitive and Rewarding Odds

Odds are one of the most important determinants of how great your betting experience will be. The odds of each game will determine how many payouts punters get when their bets turn out correctly. Essentially, the higher the odds, the higher the payout when you record a win.

Well-built Betting Platform

Companies that offer online sports betting in Virginia largely provide their services online. One important feature of the best bookies is their effort in designing and developing betting platforms like apps and websites.

The best Virginia sports betting apps put significant efforts into building their wagering platforms. Whether websites or apps, the best venues are designed intuitively so that they are easy to navigate for even new users. All important icons are within reach, potentially with a minimalist design.

Then, the best Virginia sportsbook apps always review their systems for any potential breaches while updating their security protocols. So, check if they have updates.

Bonus Deals and Offers

The next quality you may want to examine is the betting deals that the sportsbooks provide to new and existing customers. Bonuses and promotional offers boost wagerers' betting balance and increase their ability to record winnings. It is also a way through which companies provide legal sports betting in Virginia to reward and recognise their loyal customers.

However, this should not be your most important consideration. It is a common practice for sportsbooks with awful services to lure bettors to their platforms with alluring promos.

Other Value-adding Services

Running a sportsbook has gone beyond merely providing a platform for wagerers to place bets and issuing payouts when they record winnings. Today, the best online sportsbooks in Virginia are invested in improving the betting experience for their customers and helping them make more wins.

An innovative service you should look for is the live betting option. With this service, time stops being a constraint when you want to make bets. You are no longer limited to making wagers hours before a game starts. Thanks to live betting or in-game service, you can make wagers even after the game has begun.

Other services include a responsive customer support system (including a Live Chat feature) and seamless banking and transaction processing.

Possessing the Required Licenses

The first thing to watch out for is whether the sportsbook has the licenses and regulations to operate a betting service under Virginian state regulations. 14 companies offering online sports betting in VA have secured due licenses to work within the state.

They include leading names like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, Barstool, etc. There are high chances that you will find the sportsbook of choice among these top sportsbooks.

However, note that the betting company doesn't need to be registered with the Virginian government. The laws don't stop you from registering with any sportsbook that has national licensing so long as the company has gained sufficient credibility in other states.

Which Virginia Bookmaker Has the Best Odds?

You already know that having access to competitive and rewarding odds should rank among the most important factors to look out for in any sportsbook. Providing wagerers with high odds allows them to get sufficient rewards whenever they record a winning bet.

However, knowing which sportsbooks have the best odds can be difficult because of the betting policies of online sportsbooks in VA. For instance, some sportsbooks set their odds in-house, giving them much control over the odds they assign to games.

Deposit Methods at VA Sportsbooks

Bookmakers have adopted multiple payment systems to enable wagerers to conduct banking transactions seamlessly, offering bettors sufficient options.

Since they are numerous, we will classify them into 3 categories:

  • Traditional Banking Methods

Virginia sports betting apps provide conventional banking systems that enable moving funds directly from your bank to the sportsbook account without intermediary services. Methods under this category include:

  • Online banking
  • Bank transfer
  • E-cheque and traditional cheque
  • Wire transfer
  • Cards

First, credit/debit cards powered by any of Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, or Discover will enable sending funds from your bank to the betting account.

Then, there is the Play+ card which operates like a debit account but is issued directly by the sportsbook. Check if your sportsbook offers this and get one for use.

  • E-wallets

While there are several E-wallets, you may find them across sportsbooks. The most popular ones are PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

Of all the above, the cards and E-wallets are the best as they are cheaper and faster.

Withdrawal Methods at VA Sportsbooks

The method you select for withdrawing funds should be the exact one used when making deposits. It enables you to get a faster transaction and eliminates fraud.

The available methods for withdrawals are:

  • Traditional Banking

With online banking, bank transfer, or wire transfer, bettors can get their funds directly into their bank accounts without third-party processors. However, these conventional channels charge high fees and may take time.

  • Cards

When you use debit/credit cards for deposits, you can withdraw the funds to the bank account attached to those cards.

For the Play+ card, you can withdraw the funds directly to the card. You can shop at several retail stores nationwide or take the funds out from the ATM with the card.

  • E-wallets

These are the cheapest and fastest. From any of PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, etc., you can start spending the withdrawn funds or move them to your bank.

Best VA Sports Betting Apps

We can't say which is the best among various Virginia betting apps. However, there are qualities common to the best VA sports betting apps, one of which is their design. The interface should be as clean as possible, with easy access to the most critical sections.

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Virginian Live Betting & Streaming

In the past, Virginian bettors were mostly limited to setting their positions moments before their desired game started. The window of opportunity for betting on a match typically closes a few hours before the kickoff time. However, this has ended with the introduction of the live betting feature.

In addition, several Virginia mobile sports betting companies have also introduced live streaming enabling wagerers to watch as games unfold in real-time, all from their betting platform.

Local VA Bookmakers Vs Online Betting Sites

There is usually a difference between local bookmakers and online betting sites. It is often because most states have a separate license for bookmakers that run retail betting outlets and others that offer online sportsbook services. In these states, these local retail betting companies are in larger numbers than online sportsbooks.

However, Virginia uniquely favours online betting sites over local retail sports betting. Currently, 14 Virginia online sports betting companies operate within the state, with only one physical retail betting provider.

How to Win at Betting in Virginia

There is no singular strategy for winning at betting, but some fundamental tips have been observed over time and proven to work.

Here, we share the pieces of advice that have worked in the past:

  • Be on the Lookout for Deals and Offers

Virginia sports betting sites provide deals and bet offers that increase bettors' betting balances. With these offers, you can make more bets and potentially record more winnings.

  • Bet Objectively

Often, there is a difference between the outcome of a game you desire and the most likely outcome. It mostly happens when you like or detest one of the teams involved in the game. If you know that Team A has greater winning prospects than Team B, then bet in favour of Team A, even if you don't like them.

  • Review Your Losses

There's a popular saying that mistakes are not mistakes if you learn from them. Apply that mindset to your betting losses. Go back and review games you predicted wrongly to know if the wrong prediction was due to any faults of yours.

  • Know Your Game

Having sufficient knowledge about the game and event you want to bet on is important. Don't bet on the MLS if you've not closely followed it in past seasons.

The Most Active Betting Cities in Virginia

Betting is a relatively new activity in Virginia; thus, it hasn't gained so much popularity in the state. Nonetheless, some cities are already making waves for being active.

  • Virginia Beach, the most populous city and business capital, leads this set. The city produces the highest number of bettors in the state.
  • Coming behind is Richmond, the state capital. It is a leading sports centre in the state, hosting some of its most popular teams.
  • Another leading city is Arlington, where most online sportsbooks in the state locate their Virginian offices.
  • Also present on the list is Bristol. Although not a big city, it is attracting the interest of retail sports and casino betting companies.

VA Casinos with Sportsbooks

Only one casino company, Hard Rock, has been granted licences to provide sportsbook services in the state.

Nonetheless, several sportsbooks also have casino offerings (especially online).

One such is FanDuel, the earliest sportsbook to launch in the state. It offers top-notch credibility, a highly-rated platform, and a seamless user experience.

If you want trust across the board, then DraftKings is your sportsbook. It is one of the most popular and liked sportsbooks.

Then, there is BetMGM. One unique benefit bettors get from this sportsbook is its array of sporting options.

VA Overview

Virginia has historically not been in support of gambling. It took 2 years after PASPA was repealed before it legalized the practice.

Some things to know about the state include:

  • Virginia is one of the 50 states in the US. It is the 12th most populous state.
  • Its most popular cities include Virginia Beach, Arlington, Norfolk, and Richmond.
  • The top language in the state is English. A decent portion of the state also speaks Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, etc.
  • The state's leading sportsbooks include DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, etc.
  • The established sportsbook casinos include Hard Rock, BetMGM, DraftKings, etc.
  • The major payment channels used by the state's sportsbooks include conventional banking systems (cheques, online and wire transfer), cards (debit/credit, Play+), and E-wallets.
  • The top sports include football, basketball, baseball, and soccer.
  • However, while these sports are popular, teams from the state don't play them at the top-flight levels. The state has teams in the American Hockey League, USL Championship, USA Rugby League, etc.
  • Across these tournaments are teams like Richmond Elite, Richmond Black Widows, Norfolk Admirals, Northern Virginia Eagles, etc.
  • These teams produce great talents, including stars like Brandon Davies, Kyle Kuric, Brandi Cowans, Josey Ramirez, etc.

Even after legalizing sports betting, the state is enacting additional laws to improve the experience for its citizens. For instance, there have been propositions to establish a new gaming commission, to oversee wagering activities and another bill to expand the scope of collegiate betting.

Bottom Line

Since legalizing gambling, sports betting has grown in Virginia, with the top sportsbooks in the country jostling to be part of the action. You can be a partaker by carefully selecting one of them and taking advantage of the betting opportunities available. Our guide has provided everything needed to make an accurate choice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is online sports betting legal in Virginia?
    Yes. There are at least 14 online sports betting sites in Virginia.
  • Which online sportsbooks are legal in Virginia?
    Up to 14 are legal, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, PointsBet, BetRivers, Unibet, etc.
  • Can you use sportsbook apps in Virginia?
    Yes. The state's laws allow for remote registration and betting, meaning you can use sportsbook apps freely.
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    Tim E
    Author
    Betting Guru

    Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.