The Best Virginian Sports Betting Sites
Virginia has shaped up to become one of the largest and most successful states when it comes to sports betting. The market has grown significantly over the past few years and bettors in the state love the range of sportsbooks that are available at their fingertips. Our team made a concerted effort to find the best online sportsbooks in the state and to tell you more about the betting options available in the state.
The Best Online Sportsbooks in Virginia
The state currently has a total of 14 sportsbooks for bettors to choose from. So, choosing one to place your bets with can be hard at times. Our team of experts have reviewed every one of the online sportsbooks available in the state to compile the list below.
Sports Betting Regulations in Virginia
After the federal law that banned sports betting in most of the country was overturned in 2018, Virginia pushed to legalize gambling in most of its forms in the state. After two legislative sessions, sports betting was officially launched in 2021. The sports betting market in Virginia is currently mobile/online-only given that there were no land-based casinos in the state and is only now under development. With no land-based partners, the market went live for anyone in the state to bet on sports from mobile devices.
The legal age to place a sports bet in the state is 21 years or older and keep in mind that betting on college sports is not allowed if you are betting on a Virginian college sports team, but you are allowed to bet on matches that involve teams from other states. The land-based casinos that are under construction, will also be home to retail sportsbooks once these gaming facilities open their doors. Additionally, if a professional sports team relocates to Virginia, the sports team will also receive a license to operate sports betting and this applies to any team that makes the move.
Oversight
All sports betting activities are overseen by the Virginia Lottery. There are a total of 12 sports betting licenses reserved for online sportsbooks, 5 for retail sportsbooks that will be located at new land-based casinos once completed and then there will be licenses issued to any professional sports team that makes Virginia its headquarters. A sports betting operator needs to pay $250,000 for a license that is valid for three years and there is a 15% tax on any sports betting revenue.
Reviewing and Rating The Best Sports Betting Sites
The process of reviewing and rating an online casino does take some time. It is something that we happily do to provide bettors with the best betting options available in Virginia. Here are some of the key aspects we focus on during our reviews.
Customer Support
Top-rated online sportsbooks will have a great selection of contact methods that can get you in touch with the customer support team with ease. This provides more comfort to a bettor given that they know they always have help and it is just a click away. A good FAQ section also helps in supporting a bettor.
Security
A thorough background check is completed to find out if the brand can be trusted. Additionally, we look for stamps of approval from trusted independent companies that regularly test and audit the operators’ platforms and software. High-level encryption should also be used to ensure that bettor information is kept private at all times.
Payment Options
To place any bet, you need to fund your sports betting account. The best sportsbooks will have a range of payment options that include the most convenient options for their bettors. When bets are won, we find out and test the withdrawal timeframes to ensure that bettors won’t be waiting too long to spend their winnings.
Bonuses and Promotions
The most reputable online sportsbooks offer new bettors great bonuses that they can use to test the platform with little to no risk or to maximize their deposited funds and try to turn bonus funds into real money winnings. We also love seeing additional promotions advertised as major sporting events approach.
Betting Options
Any good or competitive online sportsbook will ensure that there is a variety of betting options available. The data that fuels these betting options should also come from trusted sources and partners. Additionally, there should be a great selection of sports to bet on as well as different betting market types to choose from.
Mobile Compatibility
Placing bets conveniently should always be the main focus of online sportsbooks. We find out if the online sportsbook performs well on a range of different devices. We want to see that all or most of the betting options found on the desktop website are also available on the mobile platform and the sportsbook app if there is one.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Detail
It is not a difficult task to find an online sportsbook in Virginia. However, there are a variety of good-quality options available and here is some more information on the best online sportsbooks you will find in the Old Dominion state.
FanDuel Sportsbook
When it comes to sports betting, FanDuel is known to be one of the best operators in the US. The brand gained fame and amassed a large number of users prior to 2018 with its daily fantasy sports offering. However, now it is best known to be one of the most successful sportsbooks in the country and can be found in a number of states partnered with some of the best brands in the gambling industry.
Caesars Sportsbook
The brand is well-known for its luxurious casinos around the country and abroad. However, the Sportsbook also has just as much to offer. With great betting options that in part stem from its acquisition of William Hill in recent years. The sports betting platform offers bettors a range of great betting options and much more.
BetMGM Sportsbook
The digital leg of MGM International Resorts has grown itself into a quality sports betting product. The betting options are great and competitive and with the trust that the brand brings, the online offerings are secure at all times.
Unibet Sportsbook
A brand that is known around the world that offers gambling products to many players and bettors in Sweden and Europe. The Unibet online sportsbook offers bettors the best of the best and uses its years of experience to bring bettors a great overall betting experience whether you are looking for accumulator bets, prop bets or more.
DraftKings Sportsbook
The DraftKings Sportsbook is well-known around the country and has gained a well-loved reputation over the years. This sportsbook started as one of the most popular and successful daily fantasy sports providers and has expanded into sports betting and online casino gambling. The sportsbook has also become one of the most popular and successful operations in the country and is available in 16 states.
Golden Nugget Sportsbook
A name that is synonymous with some of the best land-based casinos in Las Vegas. The sportsbook on offer from Golden Nugget gives bettors access to a range of betting odds that are exciting and competitive. The Golden Nugget Sportsbook app is also easily accessible and holds all the betting action that you will find on the desktop version.
BetRivers Sportsbook
The BetRivers Brand always has its players and bettors in mind. With tons of experience in the gambling industry, the knowledge is put to good use in the BetRivers Sportsbook. It comes fully packed with great betting options as well as a rewards program to keep bettors coming back for more. BetRivers has pushed to have its sportsbook operation live in as many states as possible since sports betting was legalized.
PointsBet Sportsbook
A brand that gained its experience in Australia and has used its knowledge to bring the US betting market great betting options. While there are the usual betting offers, the concept of PointsBetting is worth checking out as it adds to the amount you can win. The bonuses and promotions are amazing and really make PointsBet Sportsbook stand out from the rest of the competition.
WynnBet Sportsbook
The Wynn brand knows about customer satisfaction, being a brand that is well-established in the US gambling industry. The WynnBet Sportsbook still has a long way to go when it comes to betting options, but keeps bettors coming back for more with its great promotions and bonuses. Since launching in 2021, the WynnBet Sportsbook has expanded to as many as 10 states and has its eye on many more.
Barstool Sportsbook
The Barstool brand is well-known to many sports fans with its fresh and creative sports reporting. The brand pushed into the sports betting scene and has made it a great success. Barstool Sportsbook also makes it possible for bettors to win branded merchandise, which increases brand awareness and traffic to the online sportsbook.
The Most Common Sports to Bet On in CT
Nearly half of the regions in the United States lack a big four franchise for local supporters to root for, and CT is one of those. Nevertheless, sports fans may cheer on multiple top-tier professional clubs in the area, as well as several exceptional collegiate programs.
Fantasy Sports
Since 2017, DFS games have been entirely legal in CT, and many individuals appreciate the ability to interact with the industry's major companies. The reality is that casino tribes currently oversee DFS activities in the state, though this has raised concerns.
FanDuel surrendered its permit in February 2022, claiming that new state laws made it unable to operate. It stated that due to improvements to its gaming system, the DFS games will be inaccessible in CT until at least the beginning of the 2022 football season.
Baseball
Baseball continues to hold a particular place in the hearts of classic American sports fans. It has a significant reputation throughout the season and then all the way towards the World Series due to its extended regular season, the vast quantity of games, and abundance of stat-driven options for in-play betting.
Many CT residents support the Red Sox, who have won four World Series ever since the "Bambino's Curse" was removed in 2004. Others, but on the other hand, are lured to NY by the existence of arguably the most renowned name in American sports - the Yankees.
Football
Football is the most popular sport in the United States in terms of spectator attendance, commercial prosperity, and betting activity. When a big match day occurs, the wagering handle increases significantly, and the Super Bowl final is said to be the biggest yearly betting activity on the athletic schedule. This is a discipline that lends itself well to substantial in-play betting.
Connecticut residents naturally support the New York franchises, the Jets and Giants. Nevertheless, many people in the state's east support the Patriots, who have had a lot of success over the years.
Hockey
Hockey is now a truly coast-to-coast game, with teams spanning the United States. Ever since the Whalers stepped away in 1997, Connecticut hockey supporters have had no franchise to root for. They are, nevertheless, close enough to track the exploits of the Bruins or the Rangers.
Hockey is a game that lends itself well to in-play gambling, with a long season culminating in thrilling Stanley Cup championships. In addition to the greatest NHL action, leading bookmakers allow CT sports betting aficionados to participate in events in Europe's best leagues.
Soccer
Soccer is by far the most famous sport, and the popularity of Major League Soccer has raised its visibility in the United States in recent times. The existence of two clubs, the NY Red Bulls and NY City FC, in CT generates a great deal of attention in the region.
The quality of the sportsbooks running in CT contributes to the quantity of CT online wagering on soccer. DraftKings and FanDuel both provide extensive coverage of the finest domestic competitions in South America and Europe, as well as renowned international competitions like the World Cup.
NCAA Baseball
Several Connecticut colleges and universities have teams competing at the top level of collegiate baseball, ensuring a high degree of excitement and backing for their achievements. In the Constitution States, the Fairfield Stags, Yale Bluedogs, and the UConn Huskies are among the top teams.
Unfortunately, CT legal sports betting firms are only capable of offering odds on those clubs' games on a very limited basis. CT sports betting laws indicate that you can only wager on teams from the state while they are competing in collegiate events. This implies that betting on specific matches, or even just player props, is not permitted.
NCAA Football
Sports betting on collegiate games is strictly prohibited in CT. You may not wager on an activity involving a team from the state only if it is part of collegiate competition. That implies no bets on individual games, let alone team and player props.
This is unfortunate since the Huskies men's football squad draws a lot of attention for its titles within FBS, the top level of collegiate football in the United States. The Blue Devils, Pioneers, and Bluedogs all have squads within FCS, the following level below, and are well-known in CT.
NCAA Basketball
In CT, collegiate basketball is immensely popular. Many programs have squads in the NCAA's Division I hierarchy. They also include CT Huskies, who serve the University of CT, abbreviated as UConn. The Huskies earned the 17th seed in the NCAA men's tournament in 2022, however, they were upset in the opening stage against New Mexico State.
Such teams should pique the curiosity of CT sports betting lovers, but the rules governing college sports wagering are stringent. You can bet on Connecticut college teams only when they are competing in a collegiate event, including March Madness. Single game and prop wagers are not permitted.
Fun Facts About CT Sports Betting
Despite the fact that there are just three online bookmakers in CT, sports betting has delivered some spectacular outcomes since it went online. Let's take a look at a few of the facts surrounding Connecticut sports betting.
Popular Sports to Bet on in Virginia
Bettors in Virginia love having as many options as possible and that extends to the sports they bet on as well. There is a great range of sports to bet on and that can be seen by the sheer number of online sportsbooks available in the state. Here are some of the most popular sports that residents and visitors in Virginia love betting on.
Betting Markets and Types
There is always a lot to take in when you log into an online sportsbook. You need to know what type of bets work for you or what your favorite types are. If you don’t know, we have put together a quick guide on the most common and popular betting types there are at the online sportsbooks in Virginia.
Prop Bets
These are bets that are related to the sporting event but don’t have anything to do with the outcome of the event. These bets are created just for fun and give bettors more options to bet on. It can include anything from which player will have a new haircut to how many points a specific player will score. These are proposition bets or prop bets for short and add a lot more excitement to a game and you won’t have to wait until an event is over to know if you have won or lost your bet.
Over/Under Bets
A given sportsbook will give you a total, in most cases it refers to what the overall score of a sporting event will be. As the bettor, you decide if the final score will be more than (over) or less than (under) the number that the sportsbook has suggested.
Point Spread Bets
A winning margin is seen in the point spread bets. If you choose to wager on the favorite, the team or player must win by a margin greater than the specified spread. For instance, if the spread is (-7.5), your team must win by eight points or more. When wagering on the underdog, they will need to either win outright or lose by less than the specified spread for you to win.
Live Bets
These are also known as in-play bets that offer you a variety of prop bets as the sporting event is happening. These are fast-paced bets that will populate on the sportsbook while you are watching the event. So, take what you know about the teams and players and bet accordingly to win bets quickly and not have to wait for the outcome of the event.
Parlay Betting
This is also known as an accumulator bet (or acca bet) where you place several single bets on different outcomes. You place your bets in a specific order and when you win your first bet, the winnings then get rolled over and used for your next bet with new odds. If you win all of your bets, you may be in for a significant payout, but remember it can be risky as one failed bet can cost you all you have won thus far.
Single Bets
Take a look at the odds on offer from the sportsbook and place your single bet accordingly. All the information is laid out and there is nothing tricky about these types of bets.
Conclusion
Connecticut residents have only three bookmakers to choose from when it regards online sports wagering. However, it is critical to choose the perfect place for you. In addition to your preferences and betting strategy, the sportsbook in consideration should be evaluated on a number of additional criteria. Fortunately, the options in CT are the best that's around and it's very easy to see why players continue to flock to these sites.
