How Sports Betting Is Changing Day-To-Day Life For Residents Of Virginia

Virginia’s Rapidly Growing Popularity In Sports Betting

Virginia officially launched legalized sports betting back in Jan. 2021, and the industry didn’t need long to emerge as a giant moneymaker for the state.

The rise of sports betting in the United States has led to extra convenient and recreational joy for fans all across the nation. It all began to take off back in May 2018, when the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), which had made sports betting illegal in the nation for 25 and a half years.

The Supreme Court determined that the act violated America’s Tenth Amendment, and so the overturning of PASPA allowed all 50 states to launch in-person and/or mobile/online sports betting.

Along with Virginia, more than 30 other U.S. states allow its residents to enjoy some form of betting. The DraftKings Virginia mobile app is user-friendly and offers a seamless gaming experience, and they’re currently running a promo where if a new customer wagers $5, they’ll receive $150 more in bonus bets.

In October, the Virginia Lottery reported that the state took in $528 million alone in sports bets for the month of October alone. This marked the first time in the state’s history where they crossed the half-billion-dollar mark.

In November, that number dropped slightly to $518.8 million, the Virginia Lottery announced, the state earned just over $50 million in sports betting revenue for December.

There’s little reason to believe that Virginia will see a decline in sports betting. It’s clearly here to stay for the long run, and if the state eventually allows wagers on its college teams, there’s no telling how much more revenue will increase.

And it’s not just online/mobile sports betting that offers non-stop recreation in Virginia. The Headwaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk and the Rivers Casino Portsmouth (in Portsmouth) are among the land-based venues that allow residents to enjoy their favorite casino games such as poker, blackjack, slots and roulette.

Perks Of Virginia Sports Betting

How Sports Betting Is Changing Day-To-Day Life For Residents Of Virginia

Over the years, advancements in technology — especially cell phones and the internet — have made day-to-day lives much easier.

We’re not too far away from full self-driving cars, and now you can conveniently use apps through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Need a ride? Uber and Lyft can help you locate a driver to take you to your intended destination within minutes.

Well, technology advancement has been vital in the rapid growth of sports betting across the U.S. Through simple taps of their mobile devices, Virginians can place wagers on their favorite sports teams in a matter of seconds.

There are several other perks about using sportsbooks in the state of Virginia. Available apps offer quick payouts, 24/7 customer support and simple withdrawal/deposit methods such as online banking, PayPal, credit cards and debit cards.

Sportsbooks in Virginia also offer loyalty/rewards programs for special customers. This may include a monetary bonus if you refer a friend, or entry into a luxurious contest with significant grand prizes.

Popular Teams To Bet On In Virginia

Virginia doesn’t have any sports teams in either of the “big four” North American professional sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL. State laws also forbid residents from placing wagers on Virginia-based college teams.

Fortunately, residents of Virginia can still enjoy placing wagers on their favorite teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Sportsbooks like Caesars and DraftKings let you bet on dozens of different sports, including football, hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, UFC/MMA, lacrosse and cricket.

In Virginia, residents have the option to bet on four local professional sports teams in nearby DC: The NFL’s Washington Commanders, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.

The Capitals and Wizards are wrapping up their respective 2022-23 seasons, and both are unlikely to make the postseason. But the Nationals, four years removed from their first World Series championship season, commenced play earlier this week.

The Commanders are gearing up for a potential franchise-altering 2023 NFL Draft (Apr. 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri). Their 2023 regular season will commence in the second week of September, with the opponent to be announced.

But customers in Virginia can still place futures bets on these Washington teams. For instance, the Commanders are +900 to win the NFC East in 2023 at DraftKings, with their over/under win total set at 7.5 (over +120, under -150).

Dibyashree Sharma
Dibyashree Sharma
Dibyashree Sharma graduated in Computer Science from NIT Rourkela. For the past eight years, she has been blogging about Android, which she is really passionate about. She has built a good reputation as a reliable source. Away from the digital sphere, Dibyashree enjoys playing tennis, a sport she is as passionate about as she is about technology.

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