Yes, sports betting is legal in Virginia. It started on January 21, 2021, and every app in this guide to the best Virginia sportsbooks holds a permit from the Virginia Lottery.
FanDuel is our top pick: it took Virginia's first legal bet and partners with the Washington Commanders. DraftKings is second, live since January 24, 2021, with a $5 entry to its welcome offer. BetRivers is third, linked to Rivers Casino Portsmouth and its iRush Rewards program.
Among the Virginia sportsbook promos, BetRivers' Second Chance Bet up to $500 stands out for a first bet. Read on for every offer and whether a Promo Code is needed, the laws and restrictions on Virginia betting apps, a timeline since 2020, and the local teams and big games.
You need to be 21 and physically in Virginia to bet, and games involving Virginia colleges are off limits. Enjoy!
Our top 5 Virginia sportsbooks, ranked on welcome offer value, everyday features, app quality and how they treat bettors.
FanDuel opened Virginia's legal market on January 21, 2021, through its partnership with Washington's NFL team. That makes it a natural pick for Commanders betting on Sundays.
21+. Virginia only. New customers. Bet $5 or more to unlock bonus bets paid out over several days. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
DraftKings went live on January 24, 2021, the day of the NFL conference championship games. A $5 first bet unlocks $200 in bonus bets, handy for a Commanders season or a Martinsville race weekend.
21+. Virginia only. New customers. $5+ first bet on any sport. $200 in bonus bets paid in installments over 21 days. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
BetRivers launched online on January 26, 2021. Its sister casino, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, added a retail sportsbook in January 2023, and iRush Rewards pays back points on every bet.
21+. Virginia only. New customers. If your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet back up to $500. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
Hard Rock Bet went live online on May 16, 2022, and opened Virginia's first retail sportsbook at Hard Rock Bristol that July. The welcome offer covers a losing bet every day for ten days.
21+. Virginia only. New customers. First cash bet $5+ at odds of -500 or longer. Ten No Sweat Bet tokens, one a day for 10 days, each covering a cash bet up to $50. Bonus bets expire 7 days after issue. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
bet365 arrived in Virginia in 2023 under its own permit, Hillside (Virginia). Your $10 first bet earns $200 in bonus bets whether it wins or loses.
21+. Virginia only. New customers. $10 min deposit and $10 qualifying bet at odds of -500 or longer within 30 days of registering. Bonus bets expire 7 days after issue; stake not returned. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
Also licensed in Virginia: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, theScore Bet, Bally Bet.
Every new-customer offer we found for Virginia this month, side by side. None needs a promo code. Just sign up through the link. Since July 1, 2022, Virginia sportsbooks can only deduct promotional bets from their taxes during their first year in the state.
| Sportsbook | Welcome offer | Promo Code | Key terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Bet $5, Get up to $350 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | $5+ bets unlock daily bonus bet drops | Claim |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | $5 first bet; bonus bets paid over 21 days | Claim |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Second Chance Bet up to $500 | Not needed | Bonus bet back if your first bet loses, up to $500 | Claim |
| Hard Rock Bet | Bet $5, Get Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets | Not needed | 10 daily tokens, each up to $50; odds -500 or longer | Claim |
| bet365 | Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets, Win or Lose | Not needed | $10 deposit; odds -500 or longer; 7-day expiry | Claim |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over 10 Days | Not needed | $10 deposit; one No Sweat token up to $100 a day for 10 days | Claim |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Get Up To $250 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | One Bet Reset token a day for 5 days, up to $50 back each | Claim |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash | Not needed | FanCash paid over several days | Claim |
| theScore Bet | First Bet Reset up to $1,000 | Not needed | Losing first bet refunded in bonus bets, up to $1,000 | Claim |
| Bally Bet | Bet $10, Get $50 in Bonus Bets | Not needed | $10 first bet |
21+. Virginia only. New customers. Offers checked October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the full terms. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FanDuel Sportsbook took Virginia's first legal online bets on January 21, 2021, in partnership with the Washington Commanders. The team deal gave FanDuel its permit and let it launch a few days before anyone else.
Its best feature is Same Game Parlays. You can combine a Commanders spread, the total and player props into one bet, and keep betting live during the game. Boosted odds are offered to new and existing customers.
New customers get Bet $5, Get up to $350 in Bonus Bets. No Promo Code is needed. FanDuel covers moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, player props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, golf, UFC and NASCAR, including Cup Series races at Martinsville and Richmond. College game lines are available, but not on any game involving a Virginia school such as UVA, Virginia Tech, JMU or VCU, and Virginia bans player props on all college games.
DraftKings Sportsbook went live in Virginia on January 24, 2021, in the market's first week. It holds one of the state's online-only permits through Crown Virginia Gaming, LLC, so it isn't tied to a casino or a team.
Its best feature is the SGP and SGPx builder, which stacks Same Game Parlays from several games into one ticket. Dynasty Rewards pays Crowns and Tier Credits as you bet, and cash out is offered on most bet types.
New customers get Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets. No Promo Code is needed. You'll find moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, golf, tennis, UFC and NASCAR. A Commanders game or a Martinsville race weekend are typical Virginia bets. Games involving Virginia colleges are off the board, and so are player props on any college game.
BetRivers Sportsbook went live in Virginia on January 26, 2021, in the market's first week. Its partner is Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which added a retail sportsbook in January 2023. Rush Street Interactive runs the app.
Its best feature is iRush Rewards. Every bet earns points for the bonus store, and regular bettors get profit boosts and Same Game Parlay tools.
New customers get a Second Chance Bet up to $500: if your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet back. No Promo Code is needed. BetRivers covers moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, player props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, golf, UFC and NASCAR. Hampton Roads bettors can follow the Commanders on Sundays and back drivers at Martinsville. Bets on Virginia college teams and all college player props aren't allowed.
Hard Rock Bet went live online in Virginia on May 16, 2022, in partnership with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. That July the Bristol casino opened Virginia's first retail sportsbook.
Its best feature is the Unity by Hard Rock link. Bets earn Unity points for Hard Rock properties, and weekly Legendary Reward Drops add extra perks. The parlay menu includes Same Game Parlays, SGP Max, Flex Parlays, teasers and round robins.
New customers get Bet $5, Get Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets, as ten daily tokens of up to $50 each. No Promo Code is needed. You can bet moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, props, futures and live markets on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, golf, UFC and NASCAR. The NASCAR Cup races at Martinsville are a natural local bet. Virginia college teams are off the board.
bet365 arrived in Virginia in 2023 under its own permit, held by Hillside (Virginia), LLC, rather than through a casino or a team.
Its best feature is live betting. Many events stream in the app, Early Payout promotions settle selected bets early, and Bet Builder lets you combine several picks from one game. Cash out, including an auto cash-out value, is available on many bets.
New customers get Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets, Win or Lose. No Promo Code is needed. Markets include moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, Same Game Parlays, player props, futures and in-play betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, golf and UFC. A Commanders game on Monday Night Football is a good test of the in-play menu. Games involving Virginia colleges and all college player props are excluded.
Virginia legalized sports betting with HB 896 and SB 384 in 2020, and the first legal bet was placed on January 21, 2021. The Virginia Lottery regulates it. The rules are simple, but a few catch people out. The Virginia Lottery licenses and regulates every sportsbook below.
You must be 21 to bet, online or at a casino sportsbook in Bristol, Danville or Portsmouth.
Sportsbooks must make sure you're physically in Virginia when you bet. Geolocation checks this every time. You don't need to live here.
You can't bet on any game involving a Virginia college team, from UVA and Virginia Tech to JMU and VCU. Player props on all college games are banned too. You can still bet on other games in a tournament they play in. A 2026 bill, HB 1527, proposed lifting the ban for Division I game lines, but the ban still stands.
Since July 1, 2026, sportsbooks must block credit card deposits. Use a debit card, ACH bank transfer or wire instead.
Sportsbooks pay 15% of adjusted gross revenue. 97.5% goes to the state's General Fund and 2.5% to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.
Every sportsbook must let you block yourself from betting. You can ask for the request to be shared through the Virginia Lottery with every other permit holder.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2020 | HB 896 and SB 384 become law after the General Assembly accepts Gov. Ralph Northam's amendments. The tax is set at 15%. |
| Sept 15, 2020 | The Virginia Lottery Board approves sports betting regulations. |
| Nov 15, 2020 | The Lottery says it is reviewing 25 applications for sports betting permits. |
| Jan 21, 2021 | FanDuel takes Virginia's first legal online bets, partnered with Washington's NFL team. |
| Jan 24-26, 2021 | DraftKings and BetMGM go live, followed by BetRivers two days later. |
| May 16, 2022 | Hard Rock Bet launches online. |
| July 1, 2022 | A new state budget ends unlimited tax deductions for promotional bets. |
| July 8, 2022 | Hard Rock Bristol opens Virginia's first retail sportsbook. |
| Nov 2023 | Fanatics Sportsbook launches in Virginia with Colonial Downs. |
| June 30, 2026 | Fiscal year 2026 ends with $7.74 billion bet and $791 million in adjusted gross revenue. |
| July 1, 2026 | HB 515 takes effect, barring credit card deposits at sportsbooks. |
Virginia bettors put more than $609 million on sports in July 2026 alone, up nearly 42% on a year earlier. The state has no major pro team of its own, so the Commanders and NASCAR draw most of the action.
5-12 in 2025 and 1-3-1 so far in 2026 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. A new stadium at the RFK site in DC is planned for 2030.
Martinsville hosts the Xfinity 500 on November 1, 2026, the ninth race of the Chase. Richmond's 2027 Cup race runs under the lights on September 11.
11-3 in 2025, losing the ACC title game to Duke in overtime before beating Missouri in the Gator Bowl. Off the board in Virginia.
3-9 in 2025, but 4-2 so far in 2026 at Lane Stadium. Off the board in Virginia.
12-2 Sun Belt champions in 2025 and a first College Football Playoff trip, losing to Oregon. Off the board in Virginia.
28-8 and A-10 tournament champions last season, with an overtime NCAA tournament win over North Carolina. Off the board in Virginia.
| Date | Game | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2026 | Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football) | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Nov 1, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series: Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday Night Football) | Northwest Stadium, Landover, Md. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals (Monday Night Football) | Northwest Stadium, Landover, Md. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Virginia Tech vs Virginia (no betting in Virginia) | Lane Stadium, Blacksburg |
| Apr 16-18, 2027 | NASCAR Cup Series spring weekend | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway |
Virginia's biggest 2027 betting events are at the track. Martinsville Speedway hosts NASCAR Cup races on April 18 and Nov. 7, and Richmond Raceway opens the postseason Chase on Sept. 11. National events like Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, the men's Final Four on April 3 and 5, and the Kentucky Derby on May 1 are all on the board, but Virginia apps can't take bets on in-state college teams.
We check Virginia laws, licences and dates against these official sources.