Legal Online Gambling in Virginia, USA

Land-Based Casinos given the Green Light – Virginia Online Gambling Sites on Flashing Yellow

The legality of betting in VA is under review. In 2020, betting at online and retail sportsbooks was given the green light. Also, plans were approved for four land-based casinos, which are currently under construction at the time of writing. They are:

• The Horseshoe Casino in Danville
• The Hard Rock Bristol Resort and Casino in Bristol
• The Pamunkey Resort and Casino in Norfolk
• The Rivers Casino in Portsmouth

Online gambling in Virginia is on flashing yellow because some internet betting is legal, but web-based casinos per se are not. However, there is an ongoing discussion in progress, and many think that the Virginia online gambling laws will soon be changed to allow residents to play online casino games.

But, unfortunately, at this point in time, the answer to the question of is online gambling legal in Virginia is yes and no.

Online Gambling Virginia Law Clarified

We appreciate that being given a yes and no answer is somewhat confusing, so let’s clarify the VA gaming laws, so you know where you stand and what you can and can’t bet on legally. First of all, who regulates the online gambling Virginia laws? The answer is the VA Lottery Board.

How about the legal Virginia online gambling age?

The age at which residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia are allowed to bet is 18. It applies to all forms of betting, including the state lottery and social gambling sites.

Activities on Which You Can Bet

Legal Virginia online gambling games include:

• Online horse race betting
• Fantasy sports
• State Lottery
• Charitable games, including bingo (instant, network, and traditional), pull tabs, raffles, and seal cards.
• Sportsbooks
• Sweepstakes

As far as playing poker is concerned, although it is generally illegal, you can host games from the privacy of your home, but it mustn’t be a regular event, and you cannot involve an operator to whom any sort of rake-off is paid.

Illegal Online Gambling in Virginia

The VA online gambling laws are clear when it comes to web-based casinos. They are illegal – or rather, playing at them is. But what about neighboring states like Delaware and West Virginia? If they have legal web-based casinos, can you use them as a VA resident?

Virginia Gambling Online Legally at Social Casinos

Although Virginia online gambling laws are quite clear that you cannot bet legally on internet platforms at the moment, you can bet at Social casinos. The two most popular sites are Chumba, Funzpoints, and Lucklyland Slots. You can play all sorts of online games on these platforms, including:

• Bingo
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Slots
• Video Poker

It all sounds rather like ordinary gaming over the internet, but the key point is that you are playing via a social casino.

What are Social Casinos?

The big difference between a “normal” web-based betting platform and a social one is that games are primarily free when playing on the latter. The only problem is that your free credits can run out quite quickly. You can get regular free top-ups if you are willing to wait. If you’re not, you can purchase more. However, your chips or credits can only be used for more gameplay.

At present, social casinos are the only online gambling sites Virginia offers, and they are a far cry from real money platforms, both in terms of the quality and quantity of games on offer and the thrill you only get when you bet with real dollars.

Virginia Gambling Laws Online and Neighboring States

Without any online gambling sites, Virginia residents have to look elsewhere, and as a matter of fact, Delaware and West Virginia (both neighboring states) have land-based casinos within their borders that also offer online gaming.

So, can Virginian bettors use them? The answer depends on where the punter is when they access the casino. Legal online gambling in Delaware is available at three racinos:

• Delaware Park
• Dover Downs
• Harrington Raceway

If a VA resident crosses the state line into Delaware to bet online at one of these racinos – no problem. As long as they are physically located in the state when they bet, it’s perfectly legal.

If, however, they are in VA when they bet on a casino in another state, that is illegal.

Similarly, there is legal West Virginia online gambling at several establishments, as shown in the table below.

The same rules in terms of where you are when you place bets apply here as it does in Delaware.

Of course, it all depends on how insistent you are about sticking strictly to the letter of the law.

For the best online gambling Virginia experience, if you are not content with social casinos, you may have to explore offshore online gambling sites. While these sites are not strictly legal, it is extremely rare for anyone to get prosecuted for using them.

Providing the sites you visit welcome players from the USA, allow you to play with US dollars, and are properly licensed; you can’t really go wrong. The only thing you have to be aware of is that you don’t have a legal leg to stand on in case of a dispute (unlikely if the platform is properly licensed).

Try Online Sports Betting in Virginia

For the best real money online gambling in Virginia, you have plenty of choice with sports betting. It is one of the most popular types of USA online gambling, and it’s 100% legal in VA, providing you are of legal age. The sports you can bet on include:

• Historical horse racing
• Live horse racing
• Online horse racing
• Daily fantasy sports

Is online gambling legal in Virginia? It most certainly is in terms of sports. The choice of platforms includes:

• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• PointsBet
• Unibet
• WynnBET

These Virginia online casinos and more, plus the social platforms mentioned earlier, offer some excellent options and gaming experiences, but please always remember to bet responsibly.

Top Tips for Responsible Gambling

The gaming laws in the state of VA have until recently been quite restricted, partly due to the fear that residents could acquire gambling addictions. Anyone who bets should do so responsibly. Tops tips for doing so include:

• Never bet when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Don’t bet if you are depressed, stressed, or otherwise upset
• Quit when you are ahead
• Never borrow money with which to gamble and only ever gamble what you can afford to lose

For Virginians showing signs of gambling addiction, help is on hand from organizations such as:

• Agape Counseling and Therapeutic (Belle Haven, Franklin, and Norfolk)
• Colonial Behavioural Health
• The National Council on Problem Gambling

You can find more problem gambling help centers listed on the AllTreatment.com website.