Virginia Getting Close To Offers Online Sports Betting

Virginia may soon be the next state to allow online sports betting. And they even may allow some places to hold sports betting at their brick and mortar operating places.

The bill to authorize sports betting in the state was sent to the governor's office recently. He has indicated he is willing to sign some sort of bill authorizing legal gambling in Virginia but sent the bill back ask for some changes to it.

As it stands a new bill could be signed by the governor as early as May.

One of his recommendations is to allow NASCAR racetracks to accept bets. That would mean that Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway would be able to apply for licenses.

Under the law, as it is currently written up to 12 licenses would be available for companies offering online sportsbook. Another five licenses would be made available for any casino already operating in Virginia.

You would not be able to bet on any game that involved a Virginia college team. You would, however, be able to bet on all other college sports. An exception would be made if a Virginia team made it to the championships.

The governor's modifications seem minor enough that the legislature is expected to approve it. Then it would go back to the governor and if he had no more recommendations would be expected to sign it.

At that point it would be up to operators to file for their licenses and online sports gambling would start as soon as the first operator got a license.