Author:
Maria Forsman
Last Updated on:
20/01/2022
Table of Content
- Who is this article suitable for? - All fans of sports betting Virginia!
- The unique legal history of sports betting Virginia - Is sports betting legal in Virginia? It is now!
- Editor’s recommendation - The best Virginia sportsbooks for sports betting fans. You’re gonna love it!
- Is sports betting legal in Virginia? - Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience at the best Virginia sportsbooks
- What do we look for when evaluating sports betting operators for Virginia residents? Quite a few things, actually.
- Finding the right operator for you — Great tips for finding your match
- Conclusion - Find the best Virginia sportsbooks with Strafe!
- Best Virginia Sportsbooks FAQ
Who is this article suitable for? - All fans of sports betting Virginia!
Strafe.com provides up-to-date and in-depth reviews of all the online sports betting operators legal in Virginia you need to know about. We cover everything Virginia sports betting has to offer, including our top recommendation for the best Virginia sportsbooks and making sports betting legal in Virginia.
So, no matter whether you’re a newcomer to the world of sports betting in the Old Dominion State or if you’re a wagering expert — there will always be useful information, tips, and fantastic reviews waiting about existing and new operators in Virginia on our platform.
Strafe.com’s team of experts provides the most recent and reliable reviews on all your favorite sportsbooks in Virginia, and if there’s anything new on the US gambling sites horizon you need to know about, you’ll hear it from us first.
The unique legal history of sports betting Virginia - Is sports betting legal in Virginia? It is now!
An interesting fact about the State of Virginia is that it is one of less than a dozen states that currently do not have state-sanctioned or tribal casinos. But, where did the fun begin? Virginia is one of the US states that started off as quite conservative when it comes to gambling but made a mind-blowing shift by rapidly changing into one of the US states with a more progressive outlook on sports betting and gambling overall.
Just speculating here, but this sudden change of perspective might have something to do with some good old-fashioned peer pressure from neighboring states like West Virginia that was already in the process of legalizing online gambling and sports betting. Theres’ nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition if you ask us.
This change in attitude was made official in March 2020 when making sports betting legal in the State of Virginia became a reality. The new operations went live only a few months later in January 2021.
Virginia’s sports booking market leans on online and app-based sportsbooks, which ultimately counts in the state’s favor as this method of sports betting is becoming more and more popular throughout the entire United States. Here is a nice chronological breakdown of events in Virginia that led to the legalization of online sports betting:
- 1987: The state lottery was legalized in Virginia. Profits were to be given only to the State of Virginia’s education.
- 1988: The Virginia Lottery sells its first tickets.
- 1989: The Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) is created to steer all pari-mutuel betting on races that were held outside of Virginia.
- 1997: Colonial Downs, which is Virginia’s first race track, is officially open and it remains the Dominion State’s only horse racing venue.
- 2003: The Virginia Racing Commission is awarded the responsibility of managing all off-track betting facilities.
- 2004: Horse tracks bring about betting kiosks. The machines in these betting kiosks are called EZ Betting terminals.
- 2020: The Senate and Virginia General Assembly passed SB 384 and HB 896, making sports betting legal in Virginia.
- 2021: Making sports betting legal in Virginia means online sports betting in the state of Virginia is officially live.
The state lottery and pari-mutuel betting on horse racing have, for the most part, been the only gambling options in the state for a long time. Before 2020, sports betting has always been illegal in the Old Dominion State.
Making online sports betting legal in Virginia means that Virginians can have their sports betting platforms on their mobile phones and take them along wherever they go.
How things have changed!
Editor’s recommendation - The best Virginia sportsbooks for sports betting fans. You’re gonna love it!
When we were looking for our recommendation of the best betting sites for users in Virginia, we decided to look for a solid operator that performs well in all aspects related to sports betting providers instead of recommending one that has one fantastic perk but not much else to offer. We narrowed down our list to DraftKings, a sportsbook that just seems to have something of everything for everyone — and everything is of a very high standard.
When it comes to DraftKings’ betting market, you can expect an incredibly wide range of options — if there’s a sport you prefer, chances are DraftKings offer wagering opportunities on it. The betting options themselves are also impressive, and there’s lots of bets to choose from once you get into the DraftKings groove.
Not only does DraftKings Virginia offer its customers great promotions and other unique wagering opportunities like lucrative bonus deals, custom wagering contests, sportsbook pools, and a wide range of cashout options, which is mostly a rare occurrence among operators, it also has a fantastic app tailored to all states the sports betting app is legal in that is available on iOS and Android operating systems for your convenience.
The DraftKings app is of top quality, and we can confidently say that it is one of the best sports betting apps you’ll find here and while online gambling in Virginia. This operator makes sports betting legal in Virginia totally worth it.
Is sports betting legal in Virginia? - Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience at the best Virginia sportsbooks
What do we look for when evaluating sports betting operators for Virginia residents? Quite a few things, actually.
Licensing and Regulation
Licensing and regulation are one of our top priorities when reviewing online Virginia sports betting operators. If these are not in place and credible, then we will not recommend any part of the operator’s services.
As aforementioned, all gambling operators, whether land-based or online, needs to be registered with the Virginia Lottery. This regulatory body does a multi-task by providing licensing, regulation, auditing, and compliance for not only online sports betting operators, but also equipment manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and the operators’ employees.
Bonus deals and promotions
Offering customers promotions and signup bonus deals show that an online sports betting operator in Virginia wants to attract new customers but, more importantly, has its customers in mind and wants to provide an entertaining sports betting experience.
This is the main reason why bonus deals and promotions are an important part of our operator reviews. We not only look at how lucrative the offer appears to be but also test it out to see whether it’s only smoke and mirrors or whether it’s actually feasible and a good option for a customer.
Market depth and odds
Who wants to sign up at a sportsbook that has unreasonable odds and a shallow betting market? We cater for a wide audience of sports bettors and anyone new who wants to give it a try. Thus, good quality market depth is generally a sign of quality when it comes to Virginia sports betting operators. Niche sports are always a plus.
The same goes for odds. If the odds are not mind-blowing, they should at least be on par with those of other major sportsbooks in Virginia.
Customer support quality
Quality customer support in any service provider is crucial to ensure that customers’ queries are resolved quickly and effectively. We do a comprehensive check on customer service support on all sports betting operators we review in Virginia to make sure that you’ll never be stuck when you have a withdrawal issue or any other type of query.
The best VA online betting sites
1.
100% up to
$1001
Caesars Sports Bonus
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Caesars Review
*****
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Highlights
3.
100% up to
$250
BetRivers.com Sports Bonus
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BetRivers.com Review
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Highlights
4.
20% up to
$1000
DraftKings Sports Bonus
20% up to $1000
DraftKings Review
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Highlights
5.
100% up to
$1000
FanDuel Sports Bonus
100% up to $1000
FanDuel Review
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Highlights
Finding the right operator for you — Great tips for finding your match
What’s your betting style?
Do you love props or are you more of a totals kind of person? On the other hand, you may love parlay-style bets more, and it’s most likely you’ll be looking for an operator that offers the betting styles you like most.
If you like something of everything, then the bigger the variety, the better. Our reviews provide all this information for you.
Do you like betting on specific sports?
When it comes to market depth, not all online sports betting operators in Virginia are equal, especially if you’re into niche sports betting. This is also definitely a point to consider when looking for your ideal sportsbook in Virginia.
Do you want services like live betting or streaming?
Live betting and live streaming are still only available at some sports betting operators in Virginia, but both are hugely popular. If it’s your thing, be on the lookout for these features — we’ll always cover this in our Virginia sportsbook reviews.
What’s your preferred payment method?
Do you swear by PayPal or do you prefer the good old wire transfer? With online sports betting operators in Virginia, you’ll find that the available deposit methods may differ from the available withdrawal methods, so if you have specific payment methods in mind, it’s crucial to check this out.
Are you looking for a loyalty program or VIP experience?
If you’re looking for these perks, then you may have to cross several options off your list. However, make sure to choose an online sportsbook in Virginia that has all the perks you want so you can just sit back and enjoy the experience.
Conclusion - Find the best Virginia sportsbooks with Strafe!
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of just how thorough Strafe.com approaches their reviews about Virginia sports betting. If you’re new to online sports betting and you want to give it a go, we recommend you try out our top-rated sportsbook in Virginia — DraftKings.
However, as we’ve also provided some nifty tips on how you can find the best operator for you, you can dig into our collection of updated and in-depth online sports betting operator reviews of Virginian sportsbooks and use your newly-found wisdom along with our expertise to find the best operator for you.
Top betting bonuses
1.
100% up to
$1001
Bonus Code
****** Caesars Bonus Code
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Bonus Details
Type:
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Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
2.
100% up to
$1000
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****** BetMGM Bonus Code
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
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Type:
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3.
100% up to
$250
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****** BetRivers.com Bonus Code
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
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Type:
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Cashable:
yes
Requirements (WR):
1x Bonus
4.
20% up to
$1000
Bonus Code
****** DraftKings Bonus Code
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Bonus Details
Type:
Deposit Bonus
Cashable:
yes
Requirements (WR):
25x Bonus
5.
100% up to
$1000
Bonus Code
****** FanDuel Bonus Code
*****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Bonus Details
Type:
Risk-Free Bet
Cashable:
no
Requirements (WR):
1x Deposit
Best Virginia Sportsbooks FAQ
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