Virginia gambling laws are a far cry from being as liberal as those of Nevada. Until recently, Virginia had neither tribal nor commercial casinos and was one of the few states to forbid casinos of any type. However, following the new laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly session a few months ago in April 2020, online sports betting is now a legal form of gambling across the state. And five cities have been allowed to carry out commercial casino gambling.
Big thanks to the Senate that have been pushing for the legalization of casinos. The bill also covers the expansion of slot-like machines (historic horse racing machines) and online lottery sales. Pari-mutuel betting venues have always been a popular option for bettors. Colonial Downs in New Kent held live horse betting events until it went out of business in 2014. At the track, you can also find historical racing machines – slot-like machines that are based on the outcomes of actual races from the past. Off-track betting parlors are legal and widespread across its cities. They are all run under the brand name of Rosie’s Gaming Emporium.
The state lottery, on the other hand, has had a long-standing tradition. It offers draw games, scratch-off tickets, and multi-state lottery options like Mega Millions and Powerball. Lottery tickets are sold at offline retailers, convenience stores, bars, restaurants, and gas stations.
Daily fantasy sports, charitable gaming, and social gaming are also legal. Poker is considered a game of chance according to Virginia laws and is therefore illegal.
Find Virginia Casinos on The Map
Interesting State Facts
Virginia is no ordinary state. Jamestown was the first English settlement in the US and is recognized as the birthplace of the nation. It has also produced 8 American presidents; from founding fathers George Washington to Thomas Jefferson and Zachary Taylor. 6 first ladies were born within its borders as well. The name itself was adopted from England’s “Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth I.
Many of Virginia’s residents make their living growing tobacco, a major cash crop since 1612. The city’s current capital is Richmond, but there have been two capitals before that, Jamestown and Williamsburg. It is home to the second oldest college in the United States, The College of William and Mary. The Great Virginia Lottery was the first-ever United States lottery, also established in 1612.
Virginia Gambling Venues
Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Norfolk are the 5 cities that have been identified as new casino candidates. In November, a referendum will be held in these cities to seek the support of residents. If a simple majority is in favor, then the bill will be passed into law. It is expected that if the casino establishments push through, they will create 5000 new jobs and generate more revenue for the state.
Out of the prospective casino cities, Bristol and Norfolk have already crafted casino proposals.
As online sports betting kicks off, the best bookies are lining up to enter the Virginia market, including big names like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Pointsbet, and BetRivers. The Virginia Lottery Commission is expected to issue as many as 18 sportsbook licenses.
In the meantime, players can keep themselves occupied with house poker games, golf course bets, and social gaming apps. Double Down Casino, Slotmania, and Big Fish offer free to play apps on mobiles and through Facebook. Virginia gamblers can also drive to neighbouring states for table games like roulette, blackjack, and craps. The MGM National Harbour in Maryland is right on the state’s border. There is also Charles Town to the northwest and Baltimore to the northeast. Non-profit organizations hold charitable gaming events featuring bingo, raffles, seal cards, and pull tabs. Interstate Recreation Bingo in Bristol and Diversity Bingo in Richmond are two of the biggest bingo parlors open to the public.
Offshore operators are unregulated, but technically, it is not illegal to gamble at foreign casinos and sportsbooks accepting Virginia players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the games you should try out at the Virginia state lottery are Mega Millions, PowerBall, Cash4Life, Millionaire Raffle, $1,000,000 Money Ball, Cash 5, Pick 4, and Pick 3.
At the moment, online casinos do not operate in Texas. However, when they finally begin operations in Texas, it will be easy for players to sign up.
Virginia is a state with firm anti-gaming laws. It, however, gives its residents the freedom to engage in social gambling. According to Section 18:2-334 of Virginia law, the game of chance is never illegal when it is carried out in a private residence.
For a home poker game to remain legal, the home in which it is being played should not be frequently used for a game of chance. Furthermore, an operator must not be present. Going by this, when a home becomes a regular venue for a game of chance or has an operator present during a game, a home poker game can be deemed illegal.
So, to avoid being on the wrong side of the law, keep your poker games away from the public and avoid paying anyone to run it.
So long as the display of slot machines is concerned, Virginia is different from a lot of states in the US. While these states put a restriction on the display, as well as ownership of slot machines, the laws in Virginia are different. The law in Virginia regarding slot machines is as old as twenty-five years and can best be described as pragmatic.
According to Virginia laws, if the game that is displayed does not give out something valuable, it cannot be described as illegal. The implication of this is if a game is disabled, turned off, or tweaked to give out no coins or simply pretend coins, it can be displayed. Going by this, if you love the appearance of a slot machine, you can display it. You simply should avoid displaying one when it is working. According to the law, if a slot machine works, it is considered illegal.
There are rumors that gambling is not allowed in counties in Virginia in any form. Although this is unconfirmed, it is most likely true. The reason for this is legislators in Virginia have taken steps in giving county governments the freedom to put a restriction on gambling throughout the county if they feel like doing so.
