Is Online Gambling Legal In Virginia

When discussing legal online sports betting, the majority of America's government has a very regressive, prohibition-style attitude towards it, buying into a negative perspective concerning the morality of gambling entertainment. This is what has led to a variety of state gambling laws in the past.

Virginia Sports Betting And Gambling Laws. Virginia's state laws, as we have already mentioned, are on the restrictive side but contain some curious omissions that nevertheless allow legal Virginia sports betting to go on unimpeded at our top recommended legal offshore sports betting sites. Virginia does not support its own online gambling infrastructure at this time. However, there are no state or federal laws which make participating in online gambling at an online casino, poker site or sportsbook illegal as long as it is legitimately licensed and regulated outside of the United States. Unfortunately, Virginia does not yet have any legal avenues for online sports betting. Residents can, however, travel nearby and utilize New Jersey online gambling sites to place sports bets. Online Gambling in Virginia. Virginia retains a proud colonial history and had for years maintained some of that era's old-school philosophies when it comes to freedoms such as gambling. Times have changed as lawmakers have approved retail and online sports betting and several cities are considering legal casino gambling referendums.

There are no US federal laws that make it a crime for Americans to place bets at offshore sportsbooks that are operating legally within the industry. There are two states that legally prohibit all online gambling, domestic or offshore, leaving residents in Connecticut and Washington without legally sanctioned online betting options, though they have yet to start enforcing those restrictions.

For the most part, state lawmakers are becoming more progressive concerning betting entertainment and recognize the value that this type of revenue stream can bring to a state. Individual states are actively analyzing what the legalization of domestic sports gambling can provide them with in terms of opportunities, tourism, and tax revenue, and many have already taken action one way or the other through new legislation.

Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia currently permit state-regulated online sports gambling, with nearly two dozen additional states having launched land-based sportsbooks. Individual territories began embracing sports betting the moment that PASPA was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the infamous NJ case, with multiple states having had their legislation ready and waiting should the ruling go in the Garden State's favor.

Below we'll take a look at the relevant US federal gambling laws, and explain how state gambling laws intersect with federal laws to impact online and brick and mortar sportsbook gambling, as well as what these laws have to say about the legal status of offshore sports betting entertainment.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Va

The Federal Laws on the Books

The sections below will detail and explain how each major federal law affects domestic gambling opportunities in the US.

The Federal Wire Act

Passed back in 1961, the Federal Wire Act was made law in an effort to curtail the illegal gambling activities taking place over the phone by organized crime syndicates. It prohibited the transmission of wagers or betting information from being carried across state lines via telegraph or telephone. The Federal Wire Act targeted these illegal bookie operations as a means to curb the mafia from manipulating games and making a profit through these tactics.

This law was strictly focused on interstate gambling, and only targeted those accepting bets and not the individuals placing the bets. The goal was to crack down on illegal gambling services, not prosecute bettors. Between the DOJ Legal Opinion of 2011 and the repeal of PASPA, today's application of the Wire Act prohibits any gambling business from accepting bets across state lines or from foreign sources.

With the changes still being implemented, we are not sure yet how this will affect those states that had entered into interstate gambling pacts with one another, sharing player pools for their online gambling initiatives. Once that aspect of the legal situation becomes more clear we will update that information here.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

Also known as the Bradley Act, or just PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was a sweeping federal regulation that passed in 1992, with the supposed intent of protecting the integrity of sports by making sports betting illegal.

At the time the bill was passed, there were sports lotteries in Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, as well as licensed and regulated sports betting in Nevada, so those four states were exempt.

The law effectively prevented the expansion of the sports betting market throughout the United States in what many categorized as a discriminatory law that favored a few states while restricting others.

New Jersey took on the mission of challenging the law and after several years of court battles, was given a favorable outcome by the highest court in the land as SCOTUS ruled PASPA as unconstitutional, nullifying the law.

As of May 14, 2018, each individual state now has the authority to dictate sports betting laws within their borders. They can now choose to authorize or prohibit sports betting at their pleasure. Following PASPA's repeal, we have seen multiple states move forward with legislation that legalizes sports gambling at the state level.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

This is the big one that shook the gambling industry to its core. Online gambling really started to explode during the early 2000's, especially in the realm of online poker. In 2006, then-President Bush signed into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, known all over as the UIGEA. In a nutshell, the UIGEA placed very stringent regulatory restrictions concerning how gambling-related transactions could be processed.

The most reputable sites started a countdown and allowed Americans to withdraw and closeout their accounts. Many trusted gambling sites left the US market at this time. After the dust settled, and the financial and gambling industries learned how to comply with the regulatory oversight provided by the UIGEA, many of these reputable gambling sites have returned to provide services to US sports bettors.

The UIGEA did end up making the online gambling market safer for both the bettors and the operators by imposing a more reliable and stricter regulatory structure for how gambling-related transactions are processed. Gambling sites invested in top tier payment processors while all parties implemented higher-level security protocols to ensure the validity and safety of those transactions that are processed.

While US online gambling funding options are still somewhat limited in some regards, things have stabilized. The emergence of cryptocurrencies have filled the void left by the elimination of US-friendly e-wallets and failed credit card transactions. The UIGEA does not make it illegal for Americans to gamble online. The law simply regulates how online gambling transactions are processed.

The 2011 Department of Justice's Interpretation of Federal Laws

With the growth of online commerce, several states became interested in offering lottery game services online. This raised questions concerning the application of the Federal Wire Act, driving the DOJ to issue a clarification of the law's reach.

The Department of Justice ruled, and accurately so, that the federal government had no right to tell states that they could not sanction online gambling and therefore established that each US state has the authority to determine their own fate concerning online gambling with the exception of sports betting.

The repeal of PASPA took care of freeing sports gambling as the last remaining federally prohibited form of state-regulated online gambling. As of now, all 50 states have the legal ability to legalize and offer online gambling such as casinos, poker, bingo, and sports wagering. To date, only a handful of states have taken advantage of legal domestic online gambling. However, many states have pending bills to allow various forms of sports betting.

The 2019 DOJ Interpretation of Federal Gambling Laws

Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, the reach of the Federal Wire Act has again come into question. In a new interpretation, which many believe was coerced by anti-online gambling activist Sheldon Adelson, the Department of Justice has indicated that the Wire Act prohibits not only interstate wagers but also the sharing of information across state lines.

This determination will certainly harm those states that have entered into interstate gambling compacts to share player pools and resources with other states. The opinion is being formally challenged through a lawsuit headed up by New Hampshire. As the situation unfolds, we will provide updates here.

What You Need to Know Going Forward

All of this legal information is good knowledge to have under your belt, no doubt about it. However, all you really need to know going forward is that there are no federal laws making gambling illegal in the United States either online or offline, and this includes domestic and offshore sports betting. States now determine the legal status of all gambling entertainment within their borders. As a sports betting resource guide, we want to make this point clear.

For those of you interested in betting on sport but who live in a state that has not authorized state-regulated sportsbooks, you'll have to either travel to a state with legalized sports betting or use a legitimate offshore sportsbook such as the ones you find listed on this site. You can check out our list of states that allow sports betting here or follow our list of recommended online sportsbooks.

US Gambling Laws

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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.

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.

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.

Is Online Gambling Legal In West Virginia

The sections below will detail and explain how each major federal law affects domestic gambling opportunities in the US.

The Federal Wire Act

Passed back in 1961, the Federal Wire Act was made law in an effort to curtail the illegal gambling activities taking place over the phone by organized crime syndicates. It prohibited the transmission of wagers or betting information from being carried across state lines via telegraph or telephone. The Federal Wire Act targeted these illegal bookie operations as a means to curb the mafia from manipulating games and making a profit through these tactics.

This law was strictly focused on interstate gambling, and only targeted those accepting bets and not the individuals placing the bets. The goal was to crack down on illegal gambling services, not prosecute bettors. Between the DOJ Legal Opinion of 2011 and the repeal of PASPA, today's application of the Wire Act prohibits any gambling business from accepting bets across state lines or from foreign sources.

With the changes still being implemented, we are not sure yet how this will affect those states that had entered into interstate gambling pacts with one another, sharing player pools for their online gambling initiatives. Once that aspect of the legal situation becomes more clear we will update that information here.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

Also known as the Bradley Act, or just PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was a sweeping federal regulation that passed in 1992, with the supposed intent of protecting the integrity of sports by making sports betting illegal.

At the time the bill was passed, there were sports lotteries in Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, as well as licensed and regulated sports betting in Nevada, so those four states were exempt.

The law effectively prevented the expansion of the sports betting market throughout the United States in what many categorized as a discriminatory law that favored a few states while restricting others.

New Jersey took on the mission of challenging the law and after several years of court battles, was given a favorable outcome by the highest court in the land as SCOTUS ruled PASPA as unconstitutional, nullifying the law.

As of May 14, 2018, each individual state now has the authority to dictate sports betting laws within their borders. They can now choose to authorize or prohibit sports betting at their pleasure. Following PASPA's repeal, we have seen multiple states move forward with legislation that legalizes sports gambling at the state level.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

This is the big one that shook the gambling industry to its core. Online gambling really started to explode during the early 2000's, especially in the realm of online poker. In 2006, then-President Bush signed into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, known all over as the UIGEA. In a nutshell, the UIGEA placed very stringent regulatory restrictions concerning how gambling-related transactions could be processed.

The most reputable sites started a countdown and allowed Americans to withdraw and closeout their accounts. Many trusted gambling sites left the US market at this time. After the dust settled, and the financial and gambling industries learned how to comply with the regulatory oversight provided by the UIGEA, many of these reputable gambling sites have returned to provide services to US sports bettors.

The UIGEA did end up making the online gambling market safer for both the bettors and the operators by imposing a more reliable and stricter regulatory structure for how gambling-related transactions are processed. Gambling sites invested in top tier payment processors while all parties implemented higher-level security protocols to ensure the validity and safety of those transactions that are processed.

While US online gambling funding options are still somewhat limited in some regards, things have stabilized. The emergence of cryptocurrencies have filled the void left by the elimination of US-friendly e-wallets and failed credit card transactions. The UIGEA does not make it illegal for Americans to gamble online. The law simply regulates how online gambling transactions are processed.

The 2011 Department of Justice's Interpretation of Federal Laws

With the growth of online commerce, several states became interested in offering lottery game services online. This raised questions concerning the application of the Federal Wire Act, driving the DOJ to issue a clarification of the law's reach.

The Department of Justice ruled, and accurately so, that the federal government had no right to tell states that they could not sanction online gambling and therefore established that each US state has the authority to determine their own fate concerning online gambling with the exception of sports betting.

The repeal of PASPA took care of freeing sports gambling as the last remaining federally prohibited form of state-regulated online gambling. As of now, all 50 states have the legal ability to legalize and offer online gambling such as casinos, poker, bingo, and sports wagering. To date, only a handful of states have taken advantage of legal domestic online gambling. However, many states have pending bills to allow various forms of sports betting.

The 2019 DOJ Interpretation of Federal Gambling Laws

Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, the reach of the Federal Wire Act has again come into question. In a new interpretation, which many believe was coerced by anti-online gambling activist Sheldon Adelson, the Department of Justice has indicated that the Wire Act prohibits not only interstate wagers but also the sharing of information across state lines.

This determination will certainly harm those states that have entered into interstate gambling compacts to share player pools and resources with other states. The opinion is being formally challenged through a lawsuit headed up by New Hampshire. As the situation unfolds, we will provide updates here.

What You Need to Know Going Forward

All of this legal information is good knowledge to have under your belt, no doubt about it. However, all you really need to know going forward is that there are no federal laws making gambling illegal in the United States either online or offline, and this includes domestic and offshore sports betting. States now determine the legal status of all gambling entertainment within their borders. As a sports betting resource guide, we want to make this point clear.

For those of you interested in betting on sport but who live in a state that has not authorized state-regulated sportsbooks, you'll have to either travel to a state with legalized sports betting or use a legitimate offshore sportsbook such as the ones you find listed on this site. You can check out our list of states that allow sports betting here or follow our list of recommended online sportsbooks.

US Gambling Laws

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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.

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.

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.

Is Online Gambling Legal In West Virginia

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Virginia

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.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Virginia

What Features Can I Find At An Online Poker Site?

Legal Online Gambling United States

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.

Live Casino Virginia

Why Should I Use Offshore Online Bingo Sites?

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.