Virginia Casinos, Sports Betting and Online Gambling
Neighbouring States: Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
Virginia at a Glance
✅ Allowed
- Online sports betting: legal since January 21, 2021; 12+ licensed operators; strong and growing market; no retail sportsbook requirement; regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board
- Commercial casinos: three casinos open as of 2024; two more approved for 2026 opening; one of the fastest-growing US gaming markets
- Historical Horse Racing (HHR): Colonial Downs reopened ~2019 with HHR machines; operates as a racino with live horse racing
- Sweepstakes casinos: accessible; currently legal under Virginia's existing legal framework; no enforcement; all major platforms available; note: if iGaming is legalised (2027 earliest), sweepstakes would be banned under the proposed framework
- State lottery: Virginia Lottery since 1988; Powerball and Mega Millions; iLottery (online lottery) since 2020
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS): legal since 2016; DraftKings and FanDuel operate in the state
- Charitable gaming: 600+ licensed bingo halls and pull-tab venues across Virginia
- Social casinos: free-to-play with no cash prizes
- Minimum age: 21 for casinos and sports betting; 18 for lottery
❌ Not Allowed
- Real-money online casinos: not yet legalised; HB 161 and SB 118 both passed their respective chambers in the 2026 session but failed to reconcile in conference committee before session ended; both bills included a reenactment clause requiring passage again in 2027 — earliest possible launch is 2028
- Online poker: not separately legalised
Sweepstakes Casinos in Virginia
Sweepstakes casinos are currently accessible in Virginia and all of our recommended platforms are available. Virginia has not taken enforcement action against sweepstakes operators, and the no-purchase-necessary promotional model falls outside the state's current gambling definitions. However, if Virginia legalises online casinos — which requires passage in both the 2026 and 2027 legislative sessions — both HB 161 and SB 118 would ban dual-currency sweepstakes platforms that offer prizes without a state gaming licence. Virginia could become an iGaming state as early as 2028, at which point the sweepstakes landscape would change significantly.
- MegaBonanza: Our top pick for Virginia. Large slots catalogue, generous daily offers, and a polished free-entry model.
- Crown Coins: A well-regarded sweepstakes casino with a strong game library and smooth redemption process.
- Spree: A growing platform with a clean no-purchase entry model and solid game selection.
- WOW Vegas: Over 1,000 slots plus live dealer games. Free Sweeps Coins from day one.
- Free Spin Casino: A solid option with a wide variety of slot titles.
- American Luck: A US-focused platform with regular promotional offers.
- Fortune Coins: Popular for its large game library and strong VIP programme.
Social Casinos
- 7 Seas Casino: Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
- Vegas World: Free slots, poker, and table games.
- Casino World: A broad range of free social casino games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online sports betting legal in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia legalised online sports betting in April 2020 (signed by Governor Ralph Northam), with the first licensed sportsbooks launching on January 21, 2021. Virginia's model allows multiple licensed operators and does not require tethering to physical retail locations. Over 12 major operators are licensed, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and others. The Virginia Lottery Board regulates all sports wagering. Minimum age is 21.
Are there casinos in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia has undergone a dramatic transformation from a casino-free state to one of the fastest-growing US gaming markets. Three commercial casinos opened between 2023 and 2024, with two more approved and expected to open in 2026. The three open casinos — Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Caesars Virginia (Danville), and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol — generated $475.3 million in combined revenue in the first half of 2025, a 33% increase from the same period in 2024. The Pamunkey Indian Nation's casino project is also in development.
What is the Virginia iGaming situation?
Virginia came close to legalising online casinos in the 2026 legislative session. HB 161 passed the House and SB 118 passed the Senate — the most progress Virginia has made on iGaming. However, the two chambers could not reconcile differences in conference committee before the session ended. Critically, both bills included a reenactment clause requiring passage again in the 2027 session before iGaming could launch. This means even if 2026 had fully succeeded, online casinos could not have launched until 2028 at the earliest. The 2027 session is now the next opportunity. Analysis Group estimated iGaming could generate $5.3 billion in Virginia revenue over five years.
What happens to sweepstakes casinos if Virginia legalises iGaming?
Under both HB 161 and SB 118, sweepstakes casinos offering cash or cash-equivalent prizes without a Virginia gaming licence would be classified as illegal online gambling. The Virginia Lottery Board would have authority to issue cease-and-desist orders and seek court action against unlicensed platforms. First-offence civil fines would be up to $100,000; subsequent violations up to $250,000. If iGaming passes in 2027 (the next required session), sweepstakes platforms would need to obtain a Virginia online casino licence to continue operating — which they are unlikely to do. Players should monitor this carefully.
What is Colonial Downs?
Colonial Downs is Virginia's historic horse racing track in New Kent County, which closed in 2014. It was acquired by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and reopened around 2019-2020 with Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines — electronic gaming devices that simulate historical race outcomes — along with live thoroughbred racing. Colonial Downs and its Rosie's Gaming Emporium satellite locations across Virginia now operate as a regulated racino network. HHR machines have grown rapidly in Virginia, providing casino-adjacent electronic gaming to residents outside the major casino markets.
What responsible gambling resources are available in Virginia?
The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling helpline is available at 1-888-532-3500. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-522-4700, 24/7. All five Virginia licensed casinos and all licensed sports betting operators offer self-exclusion programmes. Virginia's iGaming bills proposed dedicating 2.5% of online casino revenue to problem gambling treatment programmes.
Virginia Gambling Laws
Virginia gambling is overseen by the Virginia Lottery Board, which regulates all commercial casino gaming, online sports wagering, the state lottery, and charitable gaming. The Virginia Racing Commission oversees horse racing. Multiple 2026 bills also proposed creating a dedicated Virginia Gaming Commission to consolidate oversight — these bills did not pass, but the concept reflects lawmakers' recognition that the current structure needs consolidation as Virginia's gaming market rapidly expands.
Virginia legalised sports betting in 2020 (Senate Bill 384) and casino gaming in legislation signed by Governor Northam. Voters in individual host cities must approve commercial casinos by referendum before they can be licensed. This referendum requirement means casino expansion is city-by-city rather than statewide — Richmond's proposed casino was rejected by voters, while Portsmouth, Danville, Bristol, and other cities have approved their respective casinos.
Virginia's iGaming reenactment clause — what it means
Virginia's iGaming bills (HB 161 and SB 118) both included an unusual procedural requirement: a "reenactment clause" mandating that the bill pass both the House and Senate in the 2026 session AND again in the 2027 session before it could become law. This is designed to give lawmakers time to study impacts and refine the regulatory structure. It means that even if the 2026 session had achieved full passage (House AND Senate AND conference agreement), Virginia online casinos still could not have launched until after the 2027 session concluded — i.e., no earlier than summer 2027 or later. The 2026 session failed to achieve even the first passage requirement (conference committee couldn't reconcile differences). The realistic iGaming launch timeline is now 2028-2029.
Virginia Gambling History
Virginia has one of the oldest gambling histories in the US — horse racing was recorded in colonial days, and the state banned it in 1897 (gambling went underground rather than disappearing). Live and simulcast horse racing was relegalised in 1997, and Colonial Downs opened the same year. The Virginia Lottery was established in 1988.
Virginia was a casino-free state from its founding until very recently. The 2020 gaming expansion bill — enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic partly to address budget shortfalls — authorised commercial casino gambling in up to five cities and online sports betting statewide. Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened January 2023, Caesars Virginia in Danville and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol both opened in 2024. Two more approved casinos are expected to open in 2026. The Pamunkey Indian Nation — Virginia's first federally recognised tribe — is developing a casino in Norfolk.
Sports betting launched January 21, 2021. iLottery (online lottery ticket sales) launched in 2020. Historical Horse Racing machines were authorised around 2019 and Colonial Downs reopened under new ownership alongside satellite Rosie's Gaming Emporium locations statewide. Virginia's gaming landscape in 2026 is barely recognisable from the "casino-less state with bingo halls" description that applied in 2020.
Virginia's Commercial Casinos
- Rivers Casino Portsmouth: Opened January 2023; operated by Rush Street Gaming; located in Portsmouth, near Norfolk; slots, table games, poker room, hotel, and entertainment. The first commercial casino to open in Virginia.
- Caesars Virginia (Danville): Opened December 2023; operated by Caesars Entertainment; $650 million resort casino in Danville near the North Carolina border; slots, table games, poker, hotel, entertainment venues, spa. Generated $34.1 million in adjusted gaming revenue in May 2025 — the largest of the three open casinos by revenue.
- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol: Opened July 2024; operated by Hard Rock International; in Bristol on the Tennessee border; slots, table games, hotel, live music venue. Draws visitors from both Virginia and Tennessee (which has no casinos).
- Two additional casinos approved by local referendum for 2026 opening, including a project in the Petersburg area and development pending in Alexandria and/or Northern Virginia.
- Pamunkey Indian Nation: Virginia's first federally recognised tribe; developing a casino resort in Norfolk; timeline ongoing.
Colonial Downs and Rosie's Gaming Emporiums
Colonial Downs (New Kent County) reopened under new ownership around 2019-2020 with Historical Horse Racing machines alongside live thoroughbred racing. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment operates a network of Rosie's Gaming Emporium satellite locations across Virginia — in Richmond, Hampton, Vinton, New Kent, and other locations — providing HHR gaming to residents statewide. Rosie's locations are regulated under the same Virginia Racing Commission authority as Colonial Downs.
Responsible Gambling in Virginia
- Virginia Council on Problem Gambling: 1-888-532-3500; resources at vacpg.org.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
- Virginia Self-Exclusion: covers all licensed Virginia casinos through the Virginia Lottery Board; enrolment available at casino cage locations or through the Virginia Lottery website.