Virginia Likely to Launch Online Sports Betting in January

According to the Associated Press, Virginia is likely to launch online sports betting in January of 2021. Of course, Virginia passed online sports betting legislation in 2019, but it took time to set up the rules and regulations. Virginia Lottery Director Kevin Hall expects the state to give the green light to 12 or more sportsbooks within the next month.

This means that while Virginians may have missed out on the NFL’s regular season, mobile betting will be here in time for the biggest sports betting day of the year — the Super Bowl. In addition to the Super Bowl, Virginia is launching online sports betting just in time for the majority of the NBA season and March Madness.

 

No Sports Betting on Virginia Colleges

Unfortunately, March Madness betting will be slightly subdued for Virginia bettors. Different states have different rules regarding college sports betting. Places like New Jersey and Illinois do not allow wagering on in-state colleges. Virginia will be joining these states.

That means that bettors won’t be able to bet on the Virginia Cavaliers when March Madness. On the bright side, bettors will be able to place wagers on out-of-state teams playing in the Big Dance.

 

Possible Virginia Sportsbooks

We expect to see some of the big boys in the industry leading the charge when Virginia gives the green light to operators. DraftKings, FanDuel, and William Hill are expected to be among the first sportsbooks to launch in Virginia.

DraftKings has a strong influence in the region. They operate in border states Tennessee and West Virginia, plus they are one of the top sportsbooks in nearby Pennsylvania. Whenever sports betting is set to launch in a new state, it’s safe to assume that DraftKings will be one of the first to the party.

The same can be said of FanDuel, which also operates in Tennessee, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The two sportsbooks are among the most recognizable brands in the country.