Best Virginia Sports Betting Sites
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The top online sports betting sites are live in Virginia. Let’s take an in-depth look at the best sportsbooks available in the state, along with all you need to know about sports betting in Virginia.
Top sportsbooks in VA
Virginia legalized sports betting in January of 2021 and currently finds itself inside the top 10 states of all-time sports betting handle generated. There are 14 sportsbooks that operate within the borders of Virginia, giving bettors plenty of options to take advantage of.
Virginia sports betting: Key details
Online sportsbooks available | 14 |
Legal sports betting age | 21+ |
Sports betting regulator | Virginia Lottery Board |
Types of sports betting available | Online, retail (soon), college wagering (with restrictions), esports betting |
Reviewing the best sportsbooks in Virginia
While there are plenty of options for sports bettors in Virginia, these seven sportsbooks stand out above the rest of the competition.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Welcome bonus: Bet $5, get $250 in bonus bets if your bet wins
Other types of promotions: Sport-specific promotions, daily boosts, profit boost tokens
Strengths of FanDuel:
- Tremendous mobile app
- Wide variety of markets
- Daily promos for existing users
App ratings: 4.9 (Apple), 4.7 (Google)
No sportsbook owns a bigger share of the national market than FanDuel Sportsbook, and for good reason. The app is clean and easy to use, there are odds and markets posted for each game, and there are daily promotions for existing users.
Depositing and withdrawing your money is also a painless process. It was hard to find any flaws in FanDuel Sportsbook.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Welcome bonus: Get up to $1,500 paid back in bonus bets if you lose your first bet
Other types of promotions: Boosted odds, profit boost tokens, parlay boosts
Strengths of BetMGM:
- Good desktop website
- Fast payouts
App ratings: 4.8 (Apple), 4.4 (Google)
BetMGM refers to itself as the “King of Sportsbooks” and it’s hard to dispute that fact in Virginia, where they were one of the first sportsbooks available. Their national name recognition adds to their reputation as well. Our favorite part about BetMGM was the UX/UI on the desktop site.
Caesars Sportsbook
Welcome bonus: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets
Other types of promotions: Caesars Rewards, boosted odds, profit boost tokens, parlay boosts
Strengths of Caesars:
- Lucrative rewards program
- Simple and clean mobile app
App ratings: 4.7 (Apple), 4.3 (Google)
Buoyed by the reputation of their brick-and-mortar locations, Caesars Sportsbook in Virginia has lived up to the hype. They have odds posted for all major games and their rewards programs allow bettors to turn their bets into bonus credits and discounts on meals and hotel reservations at Caesars properties across the country.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Welcome Bonus: Bet and get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
Other types of promotions: FanCash Rewards, daily power hour, profit boosts
Strengths of Fanatics:
- FanCash rewards program
- Mobile app
- Array of promos
App ratings: 4.8 (Apple), 4.7 (Google)
Fanatics is the most recent sportsbook to go live in the state of Virginia, joining the picture in November of 2023. Use your FanCash earnings from betting with the sportsbook to buy yourself an Alexander Ovechkin or C.J. Abrams jersey at Fanatics.com.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Welcome bonus: Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins
Other types of promotions: Dynasty rewards, betting pools, bet insurance, profit boosts, parlay insurance
Strengths of DraftKings:
- Great mobile app
- Easy banking
- Fair lines
App ratings: 4.8 (Apple), 4.6 (Google)
DraftKings is also viewed as an elite sportsbook and is usually right behind FanDuel in market share. There are thousands of ways to bet across a multitude of markets and props for even the most niche events. It’s also quick and easy to get your money after winning a few bets.
bet365 Sportsbook
Welcome bonus: Get a $1,000 first bet safety net OR bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets
Other types of promotions: Bet and get, parlay insurance, bet insurance
Strengths of bet365:
- Odds and markets from across the world
- unique promo offerings
App ratings: 4.8 (Apple), 4.6 (Google)
bet365 is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the world after originally getting their start in Europe. Virginia is one of their first stops in the United States as they look to extend their blueprint. Virginia bettors can take advantage of great offerings on international leagues and promotions with bet365.
Best sportsbook welcome offers in Virginia
Sportsbook | Welcome offer |
---|---|
FanDuel | Bet $5, get $250 in bonus bets if your bet wins |
BetMGM | Up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet does not win |
Caesars | Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets |
Fanatics | Bet and get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets |
DraftKings | Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins |
Bet365 | Get a $1,000 first bet safety net OR bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets |
How to get started with a Virginia sportsbook
By now, you’ve gathered enough information about each sportsbook to make an informed decision. Although signing up for a sportsbook might seem overwhelming, it’s actually a straightforward and quick process. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on one of the external links on this page to go to the sign-up page of your chosen sportsbook.
- Enter the promo code if prompted.
- Provide, verify and confirm any required personal information to validate your identity.
- Create your account with a valid email address and a secure password.
- Download the sportsbook app from your preferred app store to place and track bets from anywhere.
- Fund your account using any available deposit methods, such as online banking or PayPal.
- Browse through the available markets and place your first bet, keeping in mind any minimum or maximum bet limits for promotions.
- Claim your welcome bonus if applicable, and continue betting.
Be mindful of any terms and conditions for accepted promotions. Bonus bets typically expire within a week and usually have a 1x playthrough requirement before withdrawal.
Virginia sports teams
Virginia is the most populous state in the country that doesn’t have a team in any of the four major professional leagues. Virginia residents still love their sports, with their passion often directed toward the teams in Washington D.C. and/or Baltimore, Maryland. They also have popular Division I college teams like the Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies
Does Virginia allow betting on college sports?
Virginia does allow betting on college sports, however, there are two key restrictions in place.
- No local colleges can be wagered on or against.
- No college player prop betting at all.
Virginia residents cannot bet on the games of local schools such as Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison, Liberty, Old Dominion, VCU, George Mason and Richmond, among others.
Bettors in Virginia also can’t wager on college player props, no matter what schools are involved.
Recommended list of Virginia sportsbooks
Here’s a list of sportsbooks accepting bets in Virginia.
Sportsbook | Online betting | Retail betting |
---|---|---|
DraftKings | ✔ | |
FanDuel | ✔ | |
BetMGM | ✔ | |
Caesars | ✔ | ✔ |
Fanatics | ✔ | |
BetRivers | ✔ | ✔ |
Bet365 | ✔ | |
Betway | ✔ | |
ESPN BET | ✔ | |
Superbook | ✔ | |
Hard Rock | ✔ | ✔ |
Betfred | ✔ | |
Bally Bet | ✔ | |
Betr | ✔ |
Available sports and betting markets in Virginia
When you combine all of the available sportsbooks, residents of Virginia can bet on just about any sport or market they can imagine. With powerhouse sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings in the picture, all the bases are covered. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular sports to bet on.
Football
Whether it’s college football on Saturdays or the NFL on Sundays, fall isn’t complete without betting on some football. The spread is one of the most popular football bets to make, but you can also bet moneylines, futures or props, or parlay them all together.
Basketball
Both the NBA and college basketball make for great betting. Whether you like a team to pull the upset on the moneyline or the star player to score 30+ points, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved when betting on basketball.
Baseball
The summer is considered to be a slow time of the year for sports fans, but baseball is there every night to provide some much-needed comfort and action. Whether it’s picking the winning team, a player to hit a home run or a long-shot parlay, baseball betting is there for you in the summer months.
Hockey
Hockey betting is only growing as the league continues to gain more fans. The sport is exciting, making betting on the sport an enticing proposition. Whether it’s betting the over on total goals or betting the first goal scorer, hockey betting can be quite the experience.
Soccer
Soccer is the world’s game, and therefore sportsbooks offer betting lines from all across the globe. Whether it’s the English Premier League, the MLS, the Champions League, the UEFA Euro Championship or the FIFA World Cup, your soccer betting needs will be met.
Golf
Weekly tournaments are a sign of the summer months. There’s nothing better than placing a longshot bet early in the week and watching it come down to the wire late on Sunday.
Tennis
There are four yearly major tournaments and plenty of action in between on both the men’s and women’s sides when it comes to betting on tennis.
Pros and cons of Virginia sports betting
The state of Virginia provides a lot to its sports bettors. However, it wouldn’t be accurate to say there isn’t room for improvement.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
14+ online sportsbooks | Restrictions on college wagering |
Retail sports betting is expanding | No online casinos |
All big names are active in the state | Retail licenses are slow to be approved |
Allows college and esports wagering |
How does Virginia compare to other states?
Virginia first began to accept sports bets in January of 2021. Since that time, they have accepted the ninth most money of any state in terms of betting handle. While they’ve had a bit of a head-start on some states, it’s still a very large state that carries weight in the sports betting world. Almost $15.6 billion has been bet in Virginia since sports bets were first accepted.
In 2023, Virginia took in almost $5.6 billion in sports bets. This ranked 8th in the nation behind New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Arizona. This number is up 14% from 2022. January of 2024 was the best month on record in Virginia’s sports betting history, with over $650 million being wagered in the state that month alone.
There’s no reason to expect anything to slow down for Virginia and sports betting. There will be ebbs and flows throughout the sports calendar, but sports betting has been a success in Virginia to this point.
Virginia sports betting news and updates
Virginia welcomed Fanatics Sportsbook and ESPN BET in the final quarter of 2023 as both sportsbooks rebranded and launched in the state. The two sportsbooks were formerly known as PointsBet and Barstool Sportsbook, respectively. Both have performed better than their prior iterations.
The state is currently focused on expanding its retail sports betting locations. Hard Rock Bristol is the only location currently accepting sports bets. Casinos are being built in Norfolk, Danville and Portsmouth, which are all eventually expected to accept sports bets. A casino in Richmond failed on the voting ballot and will not return to the ballot until 2025.
Virginia sports betting handle and revenue
Here are the sports betting figures in Virginia for the last six months reported.
Month | Handle | Revenue |
---|---|---|
April 2024 | $563.5 million | $60.6 million |
March 2024 | $635.6 million | $47.7 million |
February 2024 | $545.1 million | $50 million |
January 2024 | $652.9 million | $74.3 million |
December 2023 | $633.2 million | $63.6 million |
November 2023 | $638.8 million | $43 million |
Responsible gambling in Virginia
Betting on sports is supposed to be a way to increase the interest surrounding a game you’re watching. For most people, it’s a way to add some entertainment to their night. However, for some people, gambling can be a destructive addiction.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem in Virginia, call or text the Virginia Problem Gambling Hotline at 888-532-3500 or check out other resources here.
Why use an online sportsbook in Virginia?
If you enter with the proper mindset and structure, sports betting is a way to enhance your experience while watching and following sports. As long as you maintain a proper bankroll and don’t have bad tendencies such as chasing losses, betting on sports can be a way to enjoy sports even more.
While Virginia might not have any sports teams of their own, the state is littered with diehard and passionate fans of surrounding teams. There are also plenty of local colleges around. There is nothing to question when it comes to the sports fandom of Virginia residents.
Taking advantage of all of the promotions and offers available on this page is a good way to build an opening bankroll. Make sure to continuously check back for the latest offers and reviews of the Virginia sportsbooks.
FAQ
Yes, sports betting has been legal in Virginia since January of 2021.
You must be at least 21 years old to legally bet on sports in Virginia.
Currently, there are 14 legal sports betting apps in Virginia. Some of the more popular ones include FanDuel and DraftKings.
Yes, you can bet on college sports in Virginia. However, you cannot bet on colleges located in Virginia. You also cannot bet on any player props.
Sports betting is regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board.
You can find odds for almost any sport at the legalized Virginia sportsbooks.