Online Casinos in Virginia
Are real-money online casinos legal in the Commonwealth, and what can you actually play in May 2026?
Short Answer
No. There are no licensed online casinos in Virginia.
Virginia's 2026 iGaming bills HB 161 and SB 118 cleared their chambers but died in conference committee on March 14, 2026. What is legal right now: mobile sports betting since January 2021, the VA iLottery, five commercial casinos in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Portsmouth, plus historical horse racing at Rosie's Gaming Emporium parlors.
How It Happened
Casino and sports betting laws enacted
Gov. Ralph Northam signs HB 4 and SB 36 for casino gaming plus HB 896 and SB 384 for sports wagering, putting both under Virginia Lottery oversight.
Mobile sports betting goes live
FanDuel launches the first Virginia mobile sportsbook. DraftKings and BetMGM follow within two weeks.
Petersburg replaces Richmond as the fifth casino city
Petersburg voters approve the Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia referendum with about 82 percent support, after Richmond rejected casino proposals in 2021 and 2023.
Online casino bills die in conference
HB 161 and SB 118 end the legislative session without a compromise on tax allocation. A companion sweepstakes ban dies with them.
Sweepstakes Casinos for Virginia
With no licensed online casinos in the state yet, sweepstakes sites are the legal way to play slots and table games online. These are placeholders until our database is wired in.
Casinos we play at. We earn a commission when you sign up through these.
Why There Are No Online Casinos
Virginia legalized casinos and sports betting in April 2020. The Virginia Lottery Board oversees both verticals plus the VA iLottery, which launched online July 1, 2020 under SB 922. Five host cities approved local referendums under HB 4 and SB 36, and commercial casinos opened in Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Petersburg between January 2023 and January 2026.
Real-money online casinos remain illegal because no bill has cleared the General Assembly. The 2026 attempt, HB 161 and SB 118, would have authorized iGaming through Virginia's casino licensees, but the two chambers could not agree on tax distribution and the conferenced bills died on March 14, 2026. Each version also carried a reenactment clause forcing a second 2027 vote, so even a future passage would push the earliest market launch into 2028. A companion provision to ban unlicensed sweepstakes died with the iGaming bills.
What Else You Can Legally Play
Beyond online casinos, Virginia regulates several other forms of gambling.
Five Commercial Casinos
Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened in January 2023, Hard Rock Bristol in November 2024, and Caesars Virginia in Danville in December 2024. Norfolk's interim Pamunkey and Boyd Gaming hall opened in November 2025, and the temporary Live! Casino Virginia in Petersburg opened on January 22, 2026. Permanent Norfolk and Petersburg facilities are slated for 2027.
Online Sports Betting
Legal since January 21, 2021, regulated by the Virginia Lottery. More than a dozen permitted mobile operators take wagers from anyone 21 or older located inside the state. Bets on Virginia college teams and youth sports are prohibited.
VA iLottery
SB 922 authorized online lottery play in 2020, and VaLottery.com went live on July 1 of that year. Players 18 and older inside Virginia can buy Powerball and Mega Millions, e-instant games, keno, and second-chance drawings online.
Historical Horse Racing
Colonial Downs and its Rosie's Gaming Emporium chain run historical horse racing terminals around the state under Virginia Racing Commission rules. The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries opened in late 2024 with about 1,650 HHR machines, the largest such floor in the state.
Play Responsibly
You must be 21 to gamble at a Virginia casino or bet on sports, and 18 to play the lottery or bet on horse racing. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help, or read our responsible gambling guide.
Virginia Gambling FAQ
Are online casinos legal in Virginia?+
No. The 2026 iGaming bills HB 161 and SB 118 passed both chambers but died in conference committee on March 14, 2026. Both versions also carried a reenactment clause that would force a second General Assembly vote in 2027, so the earliest possible launch is 2028 even if lawmakers try again.
Can I bet on sports online in Virginia?+
Yes. Mobile sports betting has been legal since January 21, 2021, regulated by the Virginia Lottery. More than a dozen permitted mobile operators take wagers from anyone 21 or older located inside the state, although bets on Virginia college teams and youth sports are banned.
Where are Virginia's land-based casinos?+
Five cities host commercial casinos: Bristol (Hard Rock), Danville (Caesars Virginia), Norfolk (Pamunkey and Boyd Gaming interim hall), Petersburg (Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia temporary site), and Portsmouth (Rivers Casino). Petersburg replaced Richmond after that city's voters rejected casino proposals in 2021 and 2023.
Are sweepstakes casinos allowed in Virginia?+
There is no state ban on sweepstakes casinos as of May 2026. Lawmakers attached a sweeps prohibition to the 2026 iGaming bills, and that language died when those bills failed in conference. Operators continue to accept Virginia players.
Will Virginia legalize online casinos in 2027?+
It is possible but not certain. The 2026 bills had momentum and are expected to be reintroduced in the 2027 session. Even if they pass next year, the prior versions required a second General Assembly vote the year after passage, so a market launch before 2028 is unlikely.