Online Gambling In Virginia

• Casino Gambling: Not Legal
• Poker: Not Legal
• Horse Racing Betting: OTB only
• Dog Racing Betting: OTB only
• Lottery: Legal
• Daily Fantasy Sports: Legal
• Charitable Gaming: Legalraffles and bingo only
• Social Gambling: Legal
• Online Gambling: Not Specified

• Is Online Gambling Illegal In Virginia
• Online Gambling In West Virginia

Online Gambling Options in Virginia The state of Virginia doesn’t regulate online gambling or allow any casinos to operate within state lines. But since the state’s laws don’t mention online gambling at all, it’s technically legal to gamble with offshore-based casino, poker, and sports betting sites. Virginia Online Gambling. Online gambling in Virginia is generally considered as illegal. That is, the actual law does not make reference to online gambling as being illegal or legal. And therefore with the same application of rules per states that also do not make reference to online gambling, it is generally accepted that gambling online is. The majority of states on the Eastern seaboard have adopted a liberal stance towards gambling in recent years. So far Virginia online casinos hosted “in-state” are illegal, any that do exist are not regulated, and they operate beyond the remits of the law. The laws related to gambling in Virginia are many and various, but one thing has not been covered by the legislature - online gambling. There are currently no laws related to online gambling in the state of Virginia. Because of this, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to gaming on the Internet.

Virginia gambling law falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. It’s far from being as liberal as the laws enjoyed by residents of Nevada, but it’s also not as restrictive as what can be found in Hawaii or Utah. The state has maintained a balancing act for decades, although the overall gambling industry has slowly grown over the years.

Virginia has an important place in the history of the United States. Not only was it the first colonial possession in British-controlled America, but it’s also been the birthplace of eight future presidents of the nation. Given the state’s colorful laws, there’s at least a decent chance that a few of them enjoyed some games of chance (legal or otherwise) before ascending to the highest office in the land.

This page provides an overview of the legality of gambling within Virginia. Keep in mind, however, that new legislation is being introduced all the time, so the laws can change drastically over the course of a few years. For this reason, anyone considering a major gambling initiative within the state should seek the services of an attorney (preferably one who specializes in gaming law).

The main purpose of this page on Virginia gambling law is to discuss the legality of various forms of gambling in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We’ll get to that, but we think it’s important to give you some perspective on the issue by sharing some key facts and information about the state.

• Age Requirements: 18
• Approximate Annual Gambling Revenue: n/a
• Approximate Annual Gambling Taxes: n/a
• Number of Commercial Casinos: 0
• Number of Racinos: 0
• Number of Tribal Casinos: 0
• Casino Regulatory Body: Virginia Racing Commission
• Lottery National Rankings: 8th

Virginia, as we’ve already mentioned, is an easy choice for a list of the least-friendly US states for gamblers. Very few legal forms of gambling exist in Virginia, though a few interesting forms of wagering are available. The section below consists of our educated opinion on Virginia’s gaming laws – we don’t intend it to be legal advice, and we encourage anyone who has serious legal questions about gaming in the Commonwealth to contact a lawyer familiar with Virginia gaming law.

Virginia is interesting because it is quite conservative in some gambling regards and progressive in others. Would you imagine that a state with zero commercial gambling would be the first to pass legislation on Daily Fantasy Sports? That is exactly what Virginia did.

However, the state also prohibits all forms of domestically licensed and regulated online gambling based in VA. Nonetheless, licensed offshore online gambling sites that welcome Virginia residents are considered legally acceptable and the best option for those seeking sanctioned online gambling entertainment. This all-inclusive guide shares information on legally licensed offshore online casinos, poker, bingo, sports betting, and more.

Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Virginia?

Yes. Virginia gambling laws explicitly state that online gambling is illegal, but only those based inside the state. Va gambling laws also do not mention offshore gambling sites as being illegal nor does the federal government. This allows residents to access licensed offshore gambling sites without violating any local or national gambling laws.

Top-Rated Online Gambling Sites For Virginia Residents

In the table below, VA players will find a list of several well-known licensed offshore gambling operators. These brands are regarded as leaders in the industry and are currently licensed and regulated, certifying them as legal in the eyes of the local government. These licensed offshore gambling brands offer robust bonuses, top of the line security features, and a wide variety of banking options.

Other Virginia Gambling Pages

Legal Forms Of Gambling In The State Of Virginia

Virginia may be one of the stricter states, but it is not completely dry in regards to gambling types. Residents may legally participate in each of the following gambling forms:

• Online gambling (through licensed offshore sites)
• Bingo gambling
• Lottery
• Charitable gaming (under strict conditions)
• Pari-mutuel wagering
• Daily fantasy sports

What Does The Land Based Casino Landscape Look Like?

Commercial and tribal casino gambling is outlawed in Virginia. Multiple attempts have been made to authorize casino gambling and form a regulatory commission, however, these efforts have all failed before coming to fruition.

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Virginia

Does ‘Commercial Gambling’ Apply To Poker?

Yes. Live poker is included in this category because it is classified as a game of chance in Virginia. VA players can participate in legal social poker games at their own home, but these must not be held on a regularly scheduled basis and the host must not receive payouts from losses or they will face severe penalties.

Has Virginia Teed Up Sports Betting Legislation?

States are cleared to authorize sports betting through legislation after PASPA, the long-standing ban on federal sports betting, was repealed. While neighboring West Virginia was one of the first states to begin working on legislation, Virginia failed to echo that same ambition. As of now, there are no known plans to draft up legislation on sports betting, though that could change in the coming legislative session.

How Does Daily Fantasy Sports Fit In To VA’s Gambling Market?

Online Gambling In West Virginia

Virginia went down in history as the first state to pass a law that legalized Daily Fantasy Sports paid entry contests. This news came as a major victory for operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Virginia paved the way for other states to embrace the emerging market but ironic have not current interest in legalizing domestically regulated sports gambling.

What Are Online Gambling Bonuses?

VA players looking into the licensed offshore gambling market will probably come across “bonuses”. These bonuses are financial incentives given to players that help increase the time spent on the site and their potential winnings. They do this by rewarding players’ deposits with a match deposit in additional gambling funds set to a predetermined amount or percentage.

New users will be able to claim these match deposit bonuses through Welcome Bonuses. For example, brands may match a player’s deposit by 40% up to $1,000 in free funds. Other bonus types commonly seen on licensed offshore online gambling platforms are for mobile users, cryptocurrency users, live dealer games, live sports betting, and tournaments.

How Does Virginia Define Illegal Gambling?

Illegal gambling is listed as, “making, placing, or receipt, of any bet or wager in this Commonwealth of money or other thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest, or event, occurs or is to occur inside the limits of this Commonwealth.” which limits most forms of gambling presently available in the US, lending to VA’s strict anti-gambling laws.

Virginia Online Gambling FAQ’s

What Real Money Casino Games Can I Find Online In Virginia?

Domestic online casino options are not available in the state. However, licensed offshore VA online casinos legally can offer multiple casino gambling options to Virginia residents. Various game categories exist and each offers their own game variations and titles. VA players on licensed offshore casinos can typically pick from traditional table games, access live dealer features, play specialty games like keno, bingo, or scratch cards, or select a game from their slot collection.

What Sports Can I Wager On Through An Online Sportsbook?

Domestic sportsbooks are often limited to seasonal peaks and game popularity, offering the most betting lines and options for these over smaller games or niche sports. In fact, most domestic sportsbooks offer betting on domestic leagues and events and hardly offer international options. While VA has no laws in place to offer state-licensed sports gambling, other neighboring states can like West Virginia.

However, licensed offshore VA online sportsbooks offer more sports to wager on through domestic or international events and leagues. Not only this, most carry various available betting lines for each, including niche sports like tennis, eSports, golf, billiards, darts, and more. These sportsbooks can also provide hefty bonuses and promotions not found at land-based sportsbooks.

What Features Can I Find At An Online Poker Site?

Licensed offshore VA online poker rooms offer extensive features such as multiple table and hand play, anonymous table play, note keeping, quick seats, hand histories, and tournaments. Speed play is very popular and allows individuals to play many more hands per hour than is possible at a brick and mortar poker room.

Why Should I Use Offshore Online Bingo Sites?

While online bingo has been growing in popularity over the last decade and many states are now starting to allow domestic online bingo betting – Virginia has opted out of this option. Due to legislation passed in 2011, Virginia cannot offer state-based online gambling unless these laws were amended or repealed. However, licensed offshore VA online bingo sites are legal to particpate on and even offer multiple bingo variations, side games, and bonuses not found at land-based bingo venues.