Best Sportsbooks in Virginia: Licensed VA Betting Sites November 2026

Key takeaways

• Online sports betting is legal in Virginia and regulated by the Virginia Lottery. The Lottery lists 10 approved sports betting permit holders.
• You must be 21 or older and physically inside Virginia when you bet. You don't need to live in the state.
• You can't bet on games involving Virginia colleges, and props on any college game are banned in Virginia.
• Virginia law bars credit cards for funding betting accounts. Use ACH, a debit card or a wire transfer.
• Treat any winnings as taxable income and keep your own records.

How online sports betting works in Virginia

Virginia legalized sports betting in 2020 (2020 Acts of Assembly, chapters 1218 and 1256), which created Chapter 40 of Title 58.1 in the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Lottery is the regulator, and online betting went live on January 21, 2021.

FanDuel was first: on launch day it was the only approved permit holder. For permits issued before July 1, 2025, the law gave “substantial and preferred consideration” to qualifying major league franchises and to applicants with minority equity plans, and it also gives that preference to qualifying casino applicants (Code 58.1-4032). You can read more in our FanDuel review, DraftKings review and BetMGM review.

Today the Virginia Lottery lists 10 approved sports betting permit holders, including casino operators such as Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Hard Rock Bristol and Caesars Virginia. In practice this is a phone market: in September 2026, mobile accounted for 99.5% of all wagers.

Handle was 1% lower than in September 2025 and adjusted gross revenue fell 4.2%, according to Virginia Lottery figures reported by Global Gaming Insider. For how Virginia compares with other states, see our sports betting legal states map.

Rules to know before you bet

Age and location. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for an operator to knowingly take a bet from anyone under 21. Operators must also make sure only people physically in Virginia can bet, so every app checks your location. Residency does not matter. If you live in Maryland or DC, you can bet on a Virginia app once you cross into Virginia, and you can’t use it from home.

College sports. Virginia law excludes bets on any college event in which a Virginia public or private college or university takes part. That covers schools such as UVA, Virginia Tech and VCU, and the ban applies to any single game involving a Virginia school, including spreads, totals and moneylines. If you’re new to bet types like spreads and moneylines, our moneyline and point spread guide covers the basics. That is why bettors in Virginia cannot bet on in-state teams such as Norfolk State, Liberty or VCU during March Madness, as WTKR reported. You can still bet on other college games, but not on player or game props in any college event.

Other banned bets. The Lottery also prohibits bets on youth sports, props on injuries, unsportsmanlike conduct or officiating calls, subjective awards such as MVP or the Heisman, and sports drafts.

Payments. Virginia law now bars credit cards for funding sports betting accounts (Code 58.1-4034). The Lottery can no longer approve credit cards for funding betting accounts, and operators must take reasonable steps to block them. ACH transfers, debit cards and wire transfers are still allowed.

Taxes: what the state takes, and what you owe

Operators pay 15% of adjusted gross revenue, a rate unchanged since 2020. Adjusted gross revenue is what’s left after winnings paid out, uncollectible debts (capped at 2%) and federal excise tax. Of the tax collected, 97.5% goes to the state General Fund and 2.5% to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.

In November 2025, for example, $14.27 million in sports betting tax produced $13.92 million for the General Fund and $356,865 for problem gambling treatment.

On your side, treat any winnings as taxable income, keep your own records, and check Virginia Tax guidance or a tax professional for how state income tax applies to you. Federal rules are covered on our US betting sites hub.

Safer gambling in Virginia

The Virginia Lottery runs a Voluntary Exclusion Program that covers online sports betting, casinos, account-based lottery games, charitable gaming and horse racing. You can choose 2 years, 5 years or lifetime.

1. 1

   Pick a period

   Choose 2 years, 5 years or lifetime. An exclusion can't be reversed early, so choose carefully.

2. 2

   Enroll

   Enroll for 2 or 5 years through the Lottery's online DocuSign form. Lifetime enrollment is in person at Lottery HQ or a casino, by appointment.

3. 3

   Wait for operators to be told

   The Lottery then notifies licensed operators. Questions go to the program office on 804-692-7185.

For confidential help, call, text or chat with the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling on 888-532-3500, or call the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 24/7 helpline on 1-800-522-4700. Our responsible gambling page and guide to responsible gambling tools explain deposit limits and time-outs you can set inside any licensed app.

What is changing

• College betting stays banned. HB 1527 proposed allowing bets on Division I games involving Virginia schools while keeping the prop ban. College betting on Virginia teams remains banned under current law.
• No online casino yet. The House (HB 161) and Senate (SB 118) passed different online casino bills in 2026, but a conference committee could not agree and the session ended in mid-March 2026 without a final vote, CDC Gaming reported.

Frequently asked questions

Is online sports betting legal in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia legalized sports betting in 2020 and online betting launched on January 21, 2021. The Virginia Lottery regulates it and lists 10 approved sports betting permit holders.

What is the legal betting age in Virginia?

21. Under Code of Virginia section 58.1-4040 it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for an operator to knowingly accept a sports bet from anyone under 21, so expect ID checks when you sign up.

Can you bet on Virginia college teams like UVA, Virginia Tech or VCU?

No. Virginia law excludes bets on any college event in which a Virginia public or private college or university takes part, including spreads, totals and moneylines. HB 1527 proposed allowing bets on Division I games involving Virginia schools, but college betting on Virginia teams remains banned under current law.

Can I bet on player props for college games in Virginia?

No. The Virginia Lottery bans proposition bets on all college sports, not just games involving Virginia schools. You can still bet on game lines for out-of-state college games.

Can I use a credit card on Virginia sportsbooks?

No. Virginia law bars credit cards for funding sports betting accounts (Code of Virginia 58.1-4034). You can still use ACH transfers, debit cards and wire transfers.

Do I have to pay Virginia state tax on sports betting winnings?

Treat any winnings as taxable income and keep your own records. Check Virginia Tax guidance or a tax professional for how state income tax applies to you.

Can I bet in Virginia if I live in another state, such as Maryland or DC?

Yes, as long as you are physically in Virginia when you bet. Operators must make sure only people located in Virginia can bet, and residency is not required. The app's location check decides, so you can't use a Virginia app from Maryland or DC.

References

1. Code of Virginia 58.1-4030, Definitions (Virginia college sports)
2. Code of Virginia 58.1-4032, Permit applications (preferred consideration)
3. Code of Virginia 58.1-4034, Permit holder requirements (credit card ban)
4. Code of Virginia 58.1-4037, Tax on adjusted gross revenue
5. Code of Virginia 58.1-4040, Prohibited conduct

About the author

Daniel WardFounder and Editor

Daniel Ward founded BettingSeeker and is responsible for everything published on it. He has spent his career in SEO and content for online betting and casino comparison sites, and today leads SEO for a portfolio of gambling comparison sites across several countries.

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