Although sports betting was legalized relatively recently in 2020, it has already started flourishing in Virginia, with many online sportsbooks obtaining a gambling license from the state.
Do you want to participate in this newly flourishing market? Are you looking for reliable Virginia sports betting sites? We’ll explore everything you need to know to start sports betting in this article!
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21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Sports betting is relatively new in Virginia, and the market is still in its infancy, and although many sportsbooks have entered the market, a lot of them aren’t tried and time-tested. Once a market matures, the cream rises to the top, as the expression goes.
Both newcomers and experienced bettors will benefit from an article that guides them through the betting landscape in Virginia, explores its qualities, and gives them some pointers on which sportsbooks to check out — and that’s exactly what you’re going to get here.
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Sports betting in Virginia - A brief historical overview
For most of its history, all forms of gambling were illegal in Virginia, and while neighboring states like West Virginia partially legalized gambling in 2018, it wasn’t until March 2020 that the legislator in Virginia passed the SB 384 bill.
And although the bill provided a legal pathway for sportsbooks to obtain licenses to operate online in the state and even provided for a limited number of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to open, it wasn’t until a year later that a sportsbook started operating in the state. FanDuel made history by having its website go live across the state in January 2021.
Since then, however, more operators have started obtaining licenses, and now, Virginia residents have more than a dozen legal options with more operators going through the legal process as we write this article. This is a very exciting time for people looking for Virginia online sports betting — you have never had as many legal options as you do now.
5 ways to ensure your gambling experience in Virginia is safe and fair
Whether fair or not, online gambling has a reputation for being shady and unsafe, and while there are shady and untrustworthy casino websites out there, there are some steps you can take and signs you can look for that ensure you are having a safe and fair experience.
Check if the casino has a license to operate in your state
This is not only important to make sure you’re gambling legally, but the legal process an operator goes through to obtain a license in Virginia ensures it is both safe and legally accountable. This should be the first thing you check out.
Look up what people have to say
A good way to check whether something is safe and secure is usually to check what other people have to say about it. This applies doubly so to Virginia sports betting sites. So, if you’re looking into a bookmaker, check online forums. See what kind of experiences other people have had with the operator. What do they have to say? This is a good way to have a basic idea about a sportsbook.
Read what we have to say
We don't want to brag, but we make sure we take a thorough, multifaceted look at every casino we review, and we’ve already reviewed some of the prominent operators offering online gambling in Virginia. You should check them out.
Understand what you’re signing up for
You should always understand what you exactly sign up for, and this goes doubly so for online gambling websites. There’s real money on the line, and sadly, some casinos and sportsbooks have made ‘hiding importation information in ToS’ a habit. Taking the five minutes necessary to read the terms of service will save you a lot of time and headache later on.
Check how reliable and secure the online casino website is
Not only should you check to see if the sportsbook website loads quickly and operates flawlessly, but you should also check whether the website uses basic security mechanisms like HTTPS and an SSL certificate. These are basic things, but they are usually a good indicator of how serious and reliable a sportsbook is.
The 5 criteria we use to assess bookmakers in Virginia
On our site, we believe in judging sportsbooks holistically, because the experience of a gambler isn’t decided by just one thing; it doesn’t matter if a bookmaker has a good welcome bonus if it doesn’t offer a good variety of games to bet on. Here are five of the most important criteria we use to judge Virginia sports betting sites:
Sports variety: From horse racing to football and baseball, gamblers like to bet on a wide variety of sports. Sportsbooks that only offer a few choices can get boring quickly. This is why we always look at the variety of games on offer.
Promotions and bonuses: Bonuses and promotions not only spice things up regularly, but they are also an excellent value for gamblers who regularly take advantage of them. All else being equal, you want to go with a casino that offers excellent bonuses and promotions.
Honesty and integrity: We pay close attention to how much bookmakers’ messaging on gambling, bonuses, and limits coincide with the fine print. This doesn’t only make gamblers’ lives easier, but it is also a very good indicator of how much integrity a bookmaker has.
Safety and security: When you sign up for Virginia online sports betting websites, you usually have to share your name, email, and some payment details at the bare minimum. These are important information you want to be kept safe and secure. This is why we focus on what data casinos ask for, how they store it, and what security protocols they use to keep that information secure.
Accessibility and reliability: A sportsbook’s website is a place where you’ll spend hours gambling, you need the experience to be smooth and accessible if you want to enjoy yourself. This means the website shouldn’t be excessively buggy, hard to navigate, or slow down constantly. These are all things we pay particular attention to when we look into a sportsbook.
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
The quest to find the right Virginia online sports betting site
Regardless of everything else, it is good to remember that each gambler is different — people are into different sports, have different tolerances for risk, and enjoy different aesthetics. These and more will ultimately decide which sportsbook is right for you, on an individual level.
No sportsbook will appeal to everyone, and as a gambler, you need to carefully navigate the scene to find an operator that jives with you. By reading our reviews, trying out various sportsbooks for yourself, and comparing and contrasting their offers, you’ll be able to eventually find your ideal operator, and it is smooth sailing from there.
Conclusion - Exciting times to be a gambler in Virginia
Virginia recently legalized sports betting, and this has resulted in sportsbooks slowly obtaining state licenses and entering the market. But, since everything is new, things can be a bit hectic for those looking for the best Virginia betting sites.
That doesn’t mean the scene is impossible to navigate, however: in this article, we laid down the criteria by which you should judge the sportsbooks and the ways you can find the right sportsbook for you! If you want to learn more, check out operator-specific reviews! They contain everything you need to know about a particular sportsbook.
Although this is a yes or no question, we can’t possibly answer it with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This is because each state has its laws and regulations regarding gambling. And even when it is legal, sportsbooks and casinos have to follow different regulations — NY gambling sites don’t have to follow the same laws sites in Nevada do.
🏴 What lotteries are available in Virginia?
Virginia is home to many exciting lotteries, and many residents of the state enjoy partaking in this activity. Are you feeling left out? Most people don’t know which lottery tickets they should start buying. Which one gives them the best odds? Get the answer to all of your questions in our best lottery in Virginia piece.
🏆 What are the best sports betting sites?
Many variables go into deciding which sportsbook is the best. Individual preferences, location, and more. The best Virginia sports betting sites are different from the best Tennessee sports betting sites. Check out the reviews to find a sportsbook that matches your preferences.
❓ Is gambling online safe?
Gambling, like most other activities online, can be safe or not depending on how you engage with it. To make sure you’re gambling safely, you should check out state and casino-specific reviews to learn more — for example, our California gambling online review will tell you everything you need to know about gambling safely in CA.
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
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