While Virginia gambling laws are not as liberal as other parts of the USA like Nevada, it’s still not quite as limited as the gambling laws in Utah or Hawaii. Instead, the laws in Virginia fall somewhere in the middle and have maintained a balance for decades.
At the moment, they do not have any specific Internet gambling laws; however, their existing ones cover online gambling. So if you ever find yourself asking, is online gambling legal in Virginia? You should definitely read on.
Can I gamble online in Virginia?
You’ve probably found yourself asking, is online gambling legal in Virginia several times, especially if you live in Virginia. Well, the short answer is no; Virginia online gambling sites are not legal in the state. For now, sports betting has been legalized in the state, and the hope is that online casinos in Virginia 18 and up will follow suit.
At the moment, online gambling activities are somewhat restricted, and aside from the lottery, daily fantasy games and horse racing bets, everything else is pretty much on the fence here. What we do know is that there is no restriction on Virginia residents gambling on offshore sites.
However, this can be risky and therefore is not recommended by us. These offshore sites may very well be unregulated as well and could shut down without any prior notice. For players, that means leaving behind your hard-earned money. However, on a more positive note, there are some discretionary and basic safety measures that you can take if you don’t want to part with your hard-earned money.
What type of gambling is legal in Virginia?
The lottery
One type of gambling that has been around in Virginia for quite some time is the Virginia Lottery. Provided you are within the borders of the state; you’ll be able to purchase lottery tickets online. However, you may need to ask, how old to gamble in Virginia? In order to do this, you’ll first have to sign up for the subscription and open an account with at least eight dollars. Some of the tickets that you can purchase include Megamillions, Powerball and Cash4life.
And if you’re into mobile play, the Virginia lottery app is there to take advantage of. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices, and anyone in Virginia can benefit from instant access to lottery games.
Daily fantasy sports
This is one time no one had to ask, is online gambling legal in Virginia? While daily fantasy sports are not considered gambling by many people’s standards, people in Virginia still have more freedom than most states to take part in it. In fact, Virginia was the first state to legalize daily fantasy sports back in 2016. And it appears that daily fantasy sports have paved the way for land-based 18 and up casinos in Virginia and the possibility of legalizing online casinos in Virginia. Either way, daily fantasy sports can be enjoyed by everyone in Virginia without hesitation.
Online horse bets
If you’re based in Virginia, feel free to place a bet via your computer or mobile device, provided you are at the legal gambling age in Virginia. And even though horse racing is just returning to the state, it’s one of the several regions that allows players to use horse betting sites to place bets on horse races around the country.
Live racing
Yes, live racing is available in Virginia. And while the 2020 season that introduced Covid-19 to the country made it a difficult time for the racetrack, it has now returned, and hopefully, more people will be brought back to the tracks to watch and bet on the races.
Sports betting
In April 2020, Virginia sports betting became legal in the state of Virginia and lots of people stopped asking, is online gambling legal in Virginia? Thereafter, more than 20 sportsbooks applied to operate in Virginia, and 12 licenses were available throughout the state. However, sports betting in Virginia went live officially in January 2021. Some of the sites that you can place bets on include FanDuel, DraftKings and Golden Nugget.
Social gambling and slot machines
We found that social gambling is completely legal in Virginia, and the only exception is if the house is offering a house edge or taking a rake. In that case, it will no longer be social gambling. Other than that when it comes to how old to gamble in Virginia, there is no harm as long as you play at 18 and over casinos in Virginia.
Additionally, it seems that the state of Virginia does not mind the residents owning slot machines either. In fact, the Virginia code states that citizens can own slots of any age. In other states, the slot machine would have to be at least twenty-five years or older for it to be displayed or owned by anyone.
However, it should be noted that there is a huge difference between being able to own a slot machine legally and charging your neighbors for the right to play. However, it is still illegal to generate a profit from the slot machines on a consistent basis, even though owning them is completely legal.
Is online gambling legal in Virginia? – How to start betting?
For now, there’s no need to ask, is online gambling legal in Virginia, at least not when it comes to sports betting and you’ll be able to sign up on legal sports betting apps in the state. However, we should mention that the legal age to gamble in Virginia is 18 and up. And this is how you should go about it:
- Decide which sports betting apps you want to try
- Download the relevant sports betting app for your Android or iOS device
- Sign up for an account: This process will require some personal information such as your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This information is needed in order to verify that you are, in fact, who you say you are. It also confirms that you are 21 years or older as the gambling legal age in Virginia is 21 years and older.
- Fund your account: Lastly, once you’re all set up in your account has been verified, you need to fund your account. This can be done by using online bank transfers, e-wallets and prepaid cards.
So now instead of asking, is online gambling legal in Virginia? you can simply choose your favorite sportsbooks and start betting at your leisure.
Legal sportsbooks in Virginia, USA 2023
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Conclusion – Online gambling in Virginia
It seems as if gambling in Virginia has experienced a lot of changes since last year. People are no longer asking, is online gambling legal in Virginia? In fact, they went from having just a state lottery and charitable gambling options to legalizing daily fantasy sports, horse tracks, skill games and sports betting options. So the state admittedly has come a long way from completely banning online gambling and residents of Virginia are waiting in anticipation. Likewise, we are optimistic that Virginia casinos 18 and over will soon be legal in the state of Virginia, and residents of this state will soon start enjoying all the benefits of online casinos that people across the country know about.
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Is online gambling legal in Virginia FAQ
⛏ What games can I gamble on in Virginia?
The state of Virginia offers various games to gamble on. However, some games are illegal while others are legal. At the end of the day, the onus is on every individual residing in Virginia to do their due diligence and find out exactly what games are allowed and what games are restricted. By doing this, you’ll keep yourself from possible fines and issues with authorities. However, if you’d like a list of the type of gambling that’s legal in the state, feel free to use our in-depth guides here.
⛔ How do I sign up and start betting on Virginia sportsbooks?
The sign-up process is fairly simple and on par with the rest of the gambling industry. It shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to get set up and start placing your pets in most cases. However, there will be some required documentation to verify your account, and it’s in your best interest to provide these speedily so that you can get set up as soon as possible. We put together in-depth guides and Betastic.com reviews to help you navigate the sign-up process, such as our Bet365 review and FanDuel bonus guide. With these,you can learn how to place bets on Virginia sportsbooks and more.
⛳ Is it safe to gamble on sportsbooks in Virginia?
The safety and security of each and every bookmaker or sportsbook should be evaluated based on its own merits. While there is a list of key criteria that you need to keep an eye out for, the onus is on every individual to do their due diligence. We understand that safety and security are imperative for players to have an overall good experience at any sportsbook, and this is why we decided to put together a practical guide to help you on your way.
