Virginia isn’t known for their sports teams, and while they only have college basketball teams, they mostly piggyback off neighboring states to get their professional sports team fix.
Virginia isn’t known for their gambling either. With no casinos in the state, the push really isn’t there for lawmakers to even propose legal sports betting. Virginia has always been against gambling, and it’s a toss-up between Virginia and Vermont for the strictest gambling state. The heavy opposition to gambling will likely mean that sports betting isn’t even on the radar.
Much like Vermont, Virginia does have tribal casinos legalized, but there are no tribal casinos anywhere to be found. The Pamunkey tribe attempted to submit a proposal to build a casino in 2015, but they were not approved.
Many state officials see gambling and gambling establishments as immoral, and with Atlantic City in the neighboring state of New Jersey, they likely don’t feel the need to even address gambling legalization.
What is unique about Virginia, is that Daily Fantasy Sports is technically legal in the state, but no other forms of gambling are. DFS was legalized in 2016, when states decided that it was more a skill than a game of chance. Virginia residents are open to sign up at sites like DraftKings or FanDuel – and that’s probably the best and only form of gambling that will be allowed in the state for a long time.
Dog and horse betting is legal in the state as well, but this only applies to off-track betting.
Can I bet on sports in Virginia?
No, you cannot bet at any physical sportsbooks in Virginia, because there aren’t any places to bet.
You can bet online as there are no laws or regulations around online gambling, so you are able to sign up at an online sportsbook and get in on the action in a strict anti-gambling state. It’s easy to sign up at an online sportsbook and takes minutes to start betting on your favorite teams.
Betting on Virginia Sports Teams
While there are no professional sports teams in the state, the NBA is eyeing Virginia Beach as a potential destination for an upcoming team. If that is approved and an NBA team comes to the state, that could change everything.
Currently though, the only teams in the state are on the collegiate level. The Virginia Commonwealth Rams college basketball program has recently become one of the country’s more recognizable basketball programs. They’ve made it to March Madness every year for the past 9 years, and in 2011 shocked everyone and made it to the semi-finals.
The Virginia Tech Hokies college football program is a force, making it to 24 consecutive Bowl games, with an even split of wins and losses at 12 a-piece. In 2016 they had one of their best records yet – 10-4, which in a few years could mean they will be in contention for one of the major Bowl games if they continue to improve.
What to look for in an online sportsbook
Since online sportsbooks are the only form of betting for Virginian residents, choosing a good one is of the utmost importance. Important factors to look for include deposit options, cashout options, minimum deposit limits, and bonus details. Sometimes a bonus can be too good to be true or a sportsbook might have a minimum deposit or cashout option, making it irritating to deal with once you’ve signed up and made a deposit already.
We have compiled a list of the top sportsbooks in the country, and with that, we have written a series of sportsbook reviews for you to browse, and make the right betting decisions based on your individual needs. Ensure you get the full picture before signing up at an online sportsbook and read our reviews here:
