Is Online Gambling Legal in Virginia?
No, online gambling is not legal in Virginia. Apart from sports betting, Virginia prohibits its residents from placing wagers on the games of chance via the internet.
Although there are no state-regulated Virginia online casinos to join, players are not forbidden from placing online bets, as long as it is done outside of the state border, as the whole sector is left in a so-called grey area.
Once land-based casinos start opening around the state, players will be required to have at least 21 years if they wish to participate in any gambling activity. Eighteen-year-olds may place bets only when participating in land-based poker rooms, bingo halls, lottery, and horse and dog racetracks, as well as playing online bingo.
Are Land-Based Casinos Allowed in Virginia?
Virginia has zero land-based casinos operating in its territory, even though it has passed laws that allow running a gambling facility.
The Virginia Lottery Board has started the long process towards licensing and opening the first Vegas-style venues in Virginia, including a few resorts like Hard Rock (Bristol), Caesars (Danville), Rivers Casino (Portsmouth), and Norfolk Resort & Casino (Norfolk). Players can expect these destinations to start offering their services no sooner than late 2022.
Which Forms of Online Gambling Are Legal in Virginia?
Gambling activities considered legal on the internet in Virginia are: state lottery, online sports betting, online horse racing, including pari-mutuel wagering, and daily fantasy sports.
The Commonwealth exempts any gambling organised in a private residence, including home poker games and casino nights among friends.
Players can try their luck in lottery games or buy lottery tickets using mobile devices instead of in person.
Can I Get in Trouble for Gambling in a Virginian Online Casino?
Virginia has rather restrictive laws regarding gambling, and the current law is unambiguous and broad when it comes to the definition of illegal gambling.
Although it is considered a grey area in Virginia, online gambling is far from encouraged. Resorting to reputable online casinos tackles only half of the problem; playing at such sites still leaves you without any legal recourse in case of any issues that may arise.
Even though you might not face charges for playing at an online casino in Virginia as a player, running such a business implies grave legal repercussions and is strongly discouraged by the state law.
What is the Future of VA Online Gambling?
Concluding when and if VA will legalise online casino-style gaming is not easy. Although it has a long history of frowning upon gambling, VA has changed its stance toward this activity in recent years, as shown by the introduction of online sports betting and giving out permits for land-based casinos.
At the time of writing, there is no streamlined push for online gambling legalisation, which doesn't mean that we might not witness it in the future.
