Virginia Online Gambling Laws

Gambling Laws in Virginia Virginia is limited when it comes to legal gambling options. Within the state’s borders, residents won’t find casinos, racinos, card rooms, tribal casinos, or sports betting. The only types of gambling activities that are approved in the state are daily fantasy games, the lottery, and pari-mutuel horse race bets. Penalty for illegal gambling. Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who illegally gambles or engages in interstate gambling as defined in § 18.2-325 shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. If an association or pool of persons illegally gamble, each person therein shall be guilty of illegal gambling. Virginia Online Casinos: Laws. As it stands, the laws in Virginia prohibit gambling almost in its entirety. That means, any bet involving money in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other things of value, is against the law. There’s also a clause that refers to wagers you might place online at Virginia online casinos.

Legal land-based gambling in Virginia is limited to playing the lottery and wagering on out-of-state races in one of the five licensed off-track betting facilities. Local contests are not available because Virginia’s sole racetrack, Colonial Downs, was closed in 2014 due to a severe conflict with the Virginia Racing Commission.

The property was even considered for a golf course at one point in 2016, but fortunately, it was purchased by a Chicago-based company called Revolutionary Racing. The new owners are now renovating the track and want to reopen it in the fall of 2019.

Also, local lawmakers allowed Revolutionary Racing to open one gambling facility in New Kent County. This facility will offer horse racing-themed electronic games of chance and will likely open its doors in early 2019. Virginia is also home to the Pamunkey Tribe, which managed to win federal recognition in January 2016. The Pamunkey have already expressed an interest in building a casino resort on their reservation, but they haven’t signed a gambling compact with the state yet.

Virginia Gambling Law Summary

Gambling within the borders of Virginia is regulated by Section 18 of the Virginia code. All players who participate in unlicensed gambling are theoretically looking at a misdemeanor charge, but the regulations never mention online gambling on the internet. Furthermore, the law has an exemption for private gambling. Consequently, many experts believe that the general rules don’t extend to online play, which would mean that residents are free to play on offshore iGaming sites. This theory hasn’t been tested in the Court yet, as the Virginia law enforcement officers aren’t even trying to catch online gamblers.

Gambling in Virginia is covered by the Code of Virginia, Section 18.2-325 et seq. and 59.1-364 et seq. The minimum gambling age is 18.

Online Gambling in Virginia

Things are looking dire for legal online gambling in Virginia.

Virginia defines gambling as “making, placing, or receiving any bet or wager of money or other thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or event, the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance.” There is no specific prohibition on iGaming, but the general definition is broad enough to allow the prosecution of people who play on offshore sites. Participating in unlawful gambling is generally classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor.

The only exception is gambling on the outcome of a horse race outside of a licensed facility, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. On a brighter note, Virginia residents are free to participate in paid DFS contests – local lawmakers passed a bill legalizing this gambling form in early 2016.

Virginia Casinos

Land-based casino games aren’t available in Virginia. All attempts to legalize riverboat gambling in the 1990s were turned away. Casino bill SB No. 19 has been bottled up in a Senate committee ever since it was officially filed in 2014, and the state cracked down hard on internet cafes that offered digital slots and video poker games in the 2010s.

There is a slight glimmer of hope, though – in 2018, local lawmakers allowed Revolutionary Racing, the new owners of the Colonial Downs racetrack, to open a gambling facility equipped with so-called historical horse racing machines. These devices are similar to slots but rely on the results of past horse races to determine the outcome of each game. This new facility will be called “Rosie’s Gaming Emporium” and is expected to start accepting customers in March 2019. The odds of Virginia legalizing real online casino games soon are nil.

Virginia Poker

Playing poker is illegal in Virginia unless the game is hosted in a private home and no rake is taken. Local poker enthusiasts tried to challenge the game’s legal status by filing a lawsuit in 2010 after a local charitable poker room was shut down by the Portsmouth Commonwealth Attorney. The plaintiff argued that poker is a game of skill and even brought in a 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion, Greg Raymer, to support his case. The judge acknowledged Raymer’s expertise but upheld the ban, stating that even the slightest element of uncertainty is enough to make the game illegal under state law. The plaintiff filed an appeal, and the case was brought before the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the Court refused to issue a ruling and dismissed the case. Simply put, Virginia doesn’t have a land-based poker industry and won’t legalize internet play anytime soon.

Virginia Sports Betting

Sports betting in Virginia is currently limited to betting on horse races in licensed off-track facilities. On-site betting is also legal, but the state’s sole racetrack, Colonial Downs, has been closed since 2014 and won’t reopen until fall 2019. Many experts, including gaming research firm Eilers & Krejcik, indicate that the state is highly likely to push for the legalization of betting on traditional sports in 2019 or 2020. In July 2018, these speculations were all but confirmed by Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne, who noted that “there are significant monies involved” in this gambling form. Nevertheless, it’s safe to assume that any potential sports betting expansion in Virginia will initially be limited to land-based venues.

Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports

The Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports Act was signed into law on March 7, 2016, by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. DFS companies that want to operate in Virginia are required to register with the Department of Agriculture and Customer Services, which is tasked with conducting an annual audit of all DFS companies operating in the local market to ensure compliance with the new law. Operators are also required to pay a $50,000 registration fee.

The DFS Act includes several consumer protection provisions: the operators’ employees and their immediate relatives are banned from participating in DFS contests, player funds have to be segregated from operating funds, and player data must be kept secure. The minimum age to participate in DFS contests in Virginia is 18. High-profile DFS operators that offer their services to Virginia residents include FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo DFS, and Fantasy Draft.

Virginia Lotteries

Virginia Lottery offers local and multi-state draw games, including Powerball and Mega Millions. Lotto enthusiasts can also purchase scratchers and Print ‘n Play tickets, but unfortunately, none of these products are available online. If you want to participate in any of the games offered by the Virginia Lottery, you need to visit one of the licensed retail shops.

Virginia Bingo

Live bingo is allowed in Virginia as long as charity organizations host the games. Commercial bingo constitutes unlawful gambling, which means that playing on offshore sites would likely be classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor. Regrettably, there’s no reason to expect this status quo to be challenged in the foreseeable future.

Virginia Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in VA?

Virginia’s landscape is devoid of any casinos, tribal, or commercial. Fortunately, local gambling enthusiasts can engage in pari-mutuel horse race betting and various forms of charitable gambling. Virginia operates its own lottery, which has been relatively popular over the past few years. Nevertheless, lottery tickets can’t be purchased online, and the state doesn’t have any locally licensed internet gambling sites.

What laws cover online gambling in Virginia?

Land-based gambling, including home games, is covered by Virginia Code, Section 18. Online gambling isn’t regulated within the borders of Virginia. Arguably, the authorities could try to apply the general brick-and-mortar laws to online gaming, but in the end, they simply don’t bother with trying to prosecute people who frequent offshore sites.

Is real money online gambling legal in Virginia?

The current legal status of online gambling in Virginia is somewhat ambiguous, but there’s absolutely no doubt that the Virginia officials simply don’t try to harass online gamblers who play on offshore sites.

Which offshore gambling sites accept Virginia residents?

All major US-facing poker rooms, casinos, and sports betting sites are available to Virginia residents.

What are the most popular banking options supported by Virginia -facing sites?

Once you decide to fund your online gambling account, you’ll usually have to choose between credit/debit card and Western Union/MoneyGram. Cashing out shouldn’t be a problem if you stick to the reputable sites, as all of them allow you to withdraw via a wire transfer.

Does Virginia offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. The sites that accept Virginia residents are all based and licensed offshore.

Is it likely for Virginia to regulate online gambling?

Virginia doesn’t have a healthy gambling industry that would be able to sustain a serious iGaming operation, so it should come as no surprise that Virginia legislators aren’t exactly thrilled about allowing state-regulated online games of chance.

Virginia is interesting because it is quite conservative in some gambling regards and progressive in others. Would you imagine that a state with zero commercial gambling would be the first to pass legislation on Daily Fantasy Sports? That is exactly what Virginia did.

However, the state also prohibits all forms of domestically licensed and regulated online gambling based in VA. Nonetheless, licensed offshore online gambling sites that welcome Virginia residents are considered legally acceptable and the best option for those seeking sanctioned online gambling entertainment. This all-inclusive guide shares information on legally licensed offshore online casinos, poker, bingo, sports betting, and more.

Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Virginia?

Yes. Virginia gambling laws explicitly state that online gambling is illegal, but only those based inside the state. Va gambling laws also do not mention offshore gambling sites as being illegal nor does the federal government. This allows residents to access licensed offshore gambling sites without violating any local or national gambling laws.

Top-Rated Online Gambling Sites For Virginia Residents

In the table below, VA players will find a list of several well-known licensed offshore gambling operators. These brands are regarded as leaders in the industry and are currently licensed and regulated, certifying them as legal in the eyes of the local government. These licensed offshore gambling brands offer robust bonuses, top of the line security features, and a wide variety of banking options.

Other Virginia Gambling Pages

Legal Forms Of Gambling In The State Of Virginia

Virginia may be one of the stricter states, but it is not completely dry in regards to gambling types. Residents may legally participate in each of the following gambling forms:

• Online gambling (through licensed offshore sites)
• Bingo gambling
• Lottery
• Charitable gaming (under strict conditions)
• Pari-mutuel wagering
• Daily fantasy sports

What Does The Land Based Casino Landscape Look Like?

Commercial and tribal casino gambling is outlawed in Virginia. Multiple attempts have been made to authorize casino gambling and form a regulatory commission, however, these efforts have all failed before coming to fruition.

Does ‘Commercial Gambling’ Apply To Poker?

Yes. Live poker is included in this category because it is classified as a game of chance in Virginia. VA players can participate in legal social poker games at their own home, but these must not be held on a regularly scheduled basis and the host must not receive payouts from losses or they will face severe penalties.

Has Virginia Teed Up Sports Betting Legislation?

States are cleared to authorize sports betting through legislation after PASPA, the long-standing ban on federal sports betting, was repealed. While neighboring West Virginia was one of the first states to begin working on legislation, Virginia failed to echo that same ambition. As of now, there are no known plans to draft up legislation on sports betting, though that could change in the coming legislative session.

How Does Daily Fantasy Sports Fit In To VA’s Gambling Market?

Virginia went down in history as the first state to pass a law that legalized Daily Fantasy Sports paid entry contests. This news came as a major victory for operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Virginia paved the way for other states to embrace the emerging market but ironic have not current interest in legalizing domestically regulated sports gambling.

Virginia Online Gambling Laws Against

What Are Online Gambling Bonuses?

VA players looking into the licensed offshore gambling market will probably come across “bonuses”. These bonuses are financial incentives given to players that help increase the time spent on the site and their potential winnings. They do this by rewarding players’ deposits with a match deposit in additional gambling funds set to a predetermined amount or percentage.

New users will be able to claim these match deposit bonuses through Welcome Bonuses. For example, brands may match a player’s deposit by 40% up to $1,000 in free funds. Other bonus types commonly seen on licensed offshore online gambling platforms are for mobile users, cryptocurrency users, live dealer games, live sports betting, and tournaments.

Virginia Online Gambling Laws Legal

How Does Virginia Define Illegal Gambling?

Illegal gambling is listed as, “making, placing, or receipt, of any bet or wager in this Commonwealth of money or other thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest, or event, occurs or is to occur inside the limits of this Commonwealth.” which limits most forms of gambling presently available in the US, lending to VA’s strict anti-gambling laws.

Virginia Online Gambling FAQ’s

What Real Money Casino Games Can I Find Online In Virginia?

Domestic online casino options are not available in the state. However, licensed offshore VA online casinos legally can offer multiple casino gambling options to Virginia residents. Various game categories exist and each offers their own game variations and titles. VA players on licensed offshore casinos can typically pick from traditional table games, access live dealer features, play specialty games like keno, bingo, or scratch cards, or select a game from their slot collection.

What Sports Can I Wager On Through An Online Sportsbook?

Domestic sportsbooks are often limited to seasonal peaks and game popularity, offering the most betting lines and options for these over smaller games or niche sports. In fact, most domestic sportsbooks offer betting on domestic leagues and events and hardly offer international options. While VA has no laws in place to offer state-licensed sports gambling, other neighboring states can like West Virginia.

However, licensed offshore VA online sportsbooks offer more sports to wager on through domestic or international events and leagues. Not only this, most carry various available betting lines for each, including niche sports like tennis, eSports, golf, billiards, darts, and more. These sportsbooks can also provide hefty bonuses and promotions not found at land-based sportsbooks.

What Features Can I Find At An Online Poker Site?

Virginia Online Gambling Laws California

Licensed offshore VA online poker rooms offer extensive features such as multiple table and hand play, anonymous table play, note keeping, quick seats, hand histories, and tournaments. Speed play is very popular and allows individuals to play many more hands per hour than is possible at a brick and mortar poker room.

Why Should I Use Offshore Online Bingo Sites?

Virginia Online Gambling Laws New York State

While online bingo has been growing in popularity over the last decade and many states are now starting to allow domestic online bingo betting – Virginia has opted out of this option. Due to legislation passed in 2011, Virginia cannot offer state-based online gambling unless these laws were amended or repealed. However, licensed offshore VA online bingo sites are legal to particpate on and even offer multiple bingo variations, side games, and bonuses not found at land-based bingo venues.