Best Virginia Online Casinos 2024

Best Online Casinos in Virginia 2023

Best Online Casino Bonuses in Virginia

1. Sign Up Bonuses: Just for creating a new account at a sweepstakes site, you will qualify for a Sign Up Bonus. This bonus will give you a set amount of free coins that you can then use to play at any of the games that the site offers. There’s nothing else you need to do except create a new account. Each person can only qualify for one Sign Up Bonus.

2. No Deposit Bonuses: There are other No Deposit Bonuses that are often available at Virginia sweepstakes casinos. They reward players with more free coins for doing certain things at the site, such as playing particular games or even just logging into the site every day.

3. Deposit Match Offers: If you ever purchase coins to top off your account or replenish your account if you run out, you might be able to qualify for a Deposit Match Offer. With this bonus, the sweepstakes site matches the amount of coins you purchase, up to a certain amount. In essence, you could get twice as many coins as you purchase for half the amount of money.

4. Free Spins: Free Spins are given out for players to use at particular slot machine games. The sweepstakes site will give Free Spins to specific slot machine games that they want players to try out. You can then use these to play these slot machines risk-free. You also get to keep any of the winnings you earn from the Free Spins in your account.

5. Loyalty/VIP Programs: Most of the sweepstakes casino sites in Virginia will offer a Loyalty or VIP Program of some sort. It works by giving players a certain amount of points that are based off what games they play, how often they play and how much they wager. These points add up and can then be redeemed for many things such as entries into contests, free spins and even real money.

Are Online Casinos Legal in Virginia?

Virginia is brand new to the casino industry. It was only in 2020 that the state Legislature approved measures that legalized land-based casino gambling in five cities throughout the state, pending local authorization. In four of those cities, local voters gave authorization, while in the fifth (Richmond), voters shot down the measure.

One of these casinos is fully operational right now, with the other three still in the planning and development stages. State law doesn’t allow for Virginia online casinos to operate right now, but that could change in the future. There is some hope for it since the state does allow online sports betting.

For now, though, people who want to play online casino games in Virginia have to opt for sweepstakes sites. Luckily, there are many good ones and plenty of opportunities to potentially earn real money while doing so.

Sweepstakes Casinos in Virginia

Sweepstakes casinos are a great alternative to legal Virginia online casinos. They look and feel a lot like an online casino in Virginia would if it were legal. 

They offer many popular and familiar online casino games, a variety of promotions and bonuses to reward players for doing certain things, and much excitement as well. The one big difference between traditional online casinos and sweepstakes casinos is how the currency works.

Virginia online casinos would use real money as the currency, just as their land-based counterparts do. Sweepstakes casinos use coins instead as the currency. This is what players use to place bets at whatever games are available at the site.

All players are given a certain amount of coins for free just for signing up. They can also then purchase more if they run out or if they want to top off their account.

Some sweepstakes sites even offer players the opportunity to redeem the coins that they earn for real money that they can then withdraw to outside financial accounts.

The Future of Online Casinos in Virginia

There is some solid hope for the future of an online casino in Virginia being allowed, since casino gambling is so new in the state. The fact that Virginia already legalized online sports betting is a good reason to have optimism in this regard.

Facts About Gambling in Virginia

• In 2020, state lawmakers approved a bill that legalized casino gambling in five cities in Virginia — Portsmouth, Norfolk, Danville, Bristol and Richmond. Voters in the local regions approved referendums to allow the casinos to operate in the first four cities, but the measure failed in Richmond. Right now, Virginia online casinos are not allowed.
• Only one of the approved casinos is currently operational right now, though the other three are projected to open later in 2023 or 2024.
• The Virginia Lottery Board is the agency that provides all regulatory oversight and licensing for gambling operations within the state.
• The state has a graduated tax rate on all casino revenue. All operators pay an 18% tax on the first $200 million of revenue, all the way up to a 30% tax on all revenues over $400 million.
• A percentage of the gaming proceeds will be set aside for the state’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.

Popular Casino Games in Virginia

• Blackjack: Blackjack is probably the most popular casino table card game there is. It pits players against the dealer, seeing which one will have a better hand. Each player is dealt two cards to start, and must decide whether to hit or stay. The goal is to get as close to 21 without going over. The game is very exciting, fast-paced and has solid odds for players.
• Roulette: Roulette is one of the most popular table games around. It’s a wheel-based game where players try to predict which number or color the ball will land on when the wheel stops spinning. There are 38 total numbers on the board, each which is either red, black or green. In addition to betting on individual numbers, there are plenty of other wagers available. It’s popular because it’s fast-paced, doesn’t require a lot of thought and offers solid payout odds.
• Craps: Craps is a very communal casino game that is popular among high rollers. It’s a dice game in which players try to roll two dice and make different combinations of numbers that aren’t 7 (in most cases). The game is very popular because it’s exciting and can result in some big payouts. It also offers some of the best odds for players out of all casino games.
• Slot machines: Slot machines are what built land-based casinos throughout the country. What started as basic three-reel slots has evolved with the help of technology to video slots with intricate symbols, themes, layouts and gameplay. They are still among the most popular types of games in a casino because they are fast-paced, can be played for a low amount and offer big payouts.
• Baccarat: Baccarat is a very popular card game that involves either betting on the Player, the Bank or a Tie. There is a lot of personal strategy that goes into betting one wager over another, though when cards are drawn are set by rules that can’t be changed. The goal is for your hand to get as close to the number 9.
• Poker: There are many different types of poker games in a casino, and all of them are quite popular. There are video poker machines that look and feel a lot like slot machines. There are also Three Card Poker and Caribbean Poker table games, and even poker rooms where players face off against each other. Each is unique in its own way, though all are based off the traditional poker hand rules.

Land-based Casinos in Virginia

• Hard Rock Casino Bristol. 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Virginia 24201. (276) 696-3660. This casino will be the first in the state to open, with official launch set for July of 2024. When opened, it will feature nearly 3,000 slot machines, a sportsbook and 100 table games. There will also be an outdoor entertainment center, a hotel, a concert theater and plenty of dining options. There is a temporary location open now.
• Caesars Danville. Caesars has plans to open a casino in Danville after voters approved a local referendum in 2020. Nothing is open yet, though a temporary location could open sometime in 2023.
• Headwaters Resort & Casino. 200 Park Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia. It’s projected that the Pamunkey Indian Tribe will open its $700 million casino property at some point in 2023. It will feature about 3,000 slot machines as well as 150 table games. There will be a hotel with 300 guest rooms, and various dining and entertainment options.
• Rivers Casino Portsmouth. 3630 Victory Boulevard, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701. (757) 840-2100. This casino opened in January of 2023. It features nearly 1,500 slot machines, 24 poker tables and 57 table games. There is a sportsbook on the site, plenty of entertainment options such as Topgolf Swing Suite and various dining options.

Responsible Gambling in Virginia

• The Virginia Lottery Board is the agency that’s responsible for all oversight and licensing for gambling practices within the state. A portion of the taxes that are collected from gambling revenues goes toward Virginia’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.
• The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available to people throughout the country, regardless of what state you’re in. It offers an easy way to seek direct help via a telephone line, text line and even web chat, all of which are available 24/7.
• The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling provides a wealth of resources related to responsible gambling in the state. They operate a 24/7 helpline to anyone who needs to call to get help. They also provide a wealth of other resources and support on their website.

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