Virginia Mobile Betting Update: Projected Launch January 2021

Virginia Licenses and Applications

There are some recent numbers coming from the Virginia Lottery that should be exciting for those looking forward to sports betting in the Old Dominion. The first announcement by The Lottery was that it suspects very early 2021 to be the launch of quite a few online and mobile sportsbooks. This goes hand-in-hand with the projected timeline that we had of around January 15th for the opening of some of the major oddsmakers in the United States.

However, the most exciting bit of news to come out is that there are 25 applications submitted by 12 sportsbooks for the state. This is looking to be a massive year for Virginia and sports betting if the state gets even close to that number when it comes to accepting applications. Then, Virginia will have just about as many options as any other state besides Nevada and New Jersey when it comes to sports betting.

The thing to keep in mind as the consumer is that more sportsbooks equal more competition. Competition breeds better promotions and more competitive priced odds from the oddsmakers. This means that as the bettor, you are simply getting better value.

It seems that Virginia, in some ways, is benefiting from being a little later to the party as many of the regulations and laws it requires of sportsbooks come from other states. This means that these platforms and applications already have in place all of the needs that the Lottery is asking for. This should expedite the application process, and it is why online sports betting should be coming very early in January of 2021.

Virginia Regulation

There are a few things that bettors should know about the regulations in Virginia. The first is that college betting is restricted. While collegiate betting is allowed, you will not be allowed to bet on any in-state schools. This means that if the school is located in Virginia and is participating in a game or event, even if the game or event is outside state borders, then you are not allowed to wager on it.

Unfortunately, this means that Virginia Tech, Old Dominion, Liberty, Virginia Commonwealth University, and The University of Virginia will be off-limits in terms of wagering. This decision may be a little short-sighted since many states allow for in-state collegiate betting, and so far, there have been zero scandals. On top of this is the fact that someone who really wanted to influence an amateur athlete’s decision could drive to Tennessee, New Jersey, or bet offshore to then bet on a Virginia collegiate team.

The second important note is that Virginia is taking the progressive approach of not requiring online sportsbooks to be tied to casinos within the state. This means that online sportsbooks that operate may not have any physical presence in Virginia. This is important to note because this eliminates the option of withdrawing or depositing at a casino cage. However, in the long run, this is a good thing because it will allow more sportsbooks to enter.

Virginia will be getting sports betting soon, so do not forget to check out our Virginia sportsbook page for reviews, guides, and promotions for all the new and emerging options in the state!