Virginia Online Sports Betting Sites

The first thing that those who live in Virginia that are curious about placing sports wagers over the Internet should know is that there are many online betting sites that will allow them to join and risk real money. Now, this isn't saying that the laws allow online sports betting in Virginia, however the enforcement of these laws are non-existent, especially on the individual level. If you want to learn more about the current state of online sports wagering in Virginia, keep reading as we discuss the topic further or you can skip right to the best wagering sites to join by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

Is It Safe For Virginia Residents To Bet On Sports On the Internet?

If by “safe” you mean “legal,”  then no.”  Technically, it is not legal for residents of Virginia to bet on sports online however there are no records of anyone ever being charged with making online wagers in the state. And, there is nothing stopping you from joining and placing wagers on events. But, until federal law changes allow 100% legal sports betting in America, citizens of Virginia who place wagers on sporting events are in violation of federal statutes although it has been debated if an individual bettor even applies to the Wire Act of 1961. If you do not feel comfortable with the current state of affairs, then it is recommended that you wait for the federal sports betting laws to be changed.

Legality Of Betting On Sports In Virginia

The legality of sports gambling in the United States including Virginia is fairly cut and dry. In almost every part of the USA, gambling on sports is explicitly illegal, thanks to the federal government’s involvement in professional sports. The 1961 Federal Wire Act says plainly that any bets placed on sporting events or contests over a “wire” (in this case, a phone wire, a cable wire, or any kind of Internet connection) are illegal, and that makes things difficult for people who want to wager on sports in Virginia.

Many in the industry point out that existing federal laws only make it illegal to run an actual operation of a sportsbook, not placing a wager with a sportsbook. Evidence to back this up would be the fact that no individual has ever been arrested or charged with placing wagers over the Internet in the state of Virginia.