It was a time when there were no casinos in Virginia. But later, on 3rd November 2020, most voters approved the launch of Virginia casinos. The voters demanded the casinos to open in Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, and Norfolk. However, Richmond residents had a similar measure set but ultimately decided against it in November 2021.
Voters in Virginia were supporting both online sports betting and land-based casinos. However, poker sites and online casinos are against the law.
Online sports betting became available in January 2021, and the brick-and-mortar casinos will be the retail house sportsbooks until mid-2022.
1. Casinos In Virginia
After online gambling was legalized in Virginia, they launched online sports betting apps. You need to be 21 or older and physically present in the Commonwealth to bet.
According to the casino referendum, cities will have land-based casino resorts.
- Norfolk
- Portsmouth
- Bristol
- Danville
- Richmond
The Chesapeake Bay Area will have the most casinos, thanks to the casinos located in Portsmouth and Norfolk.
1.1. Horseshoe Danville
Caesars Entertainment runs the Horseshoe brand, and the Horseshoe Danville location is the latest spot in the Caesars Rewards network.
Your rewards points can be utilized at over 50 resorts and casinos, including the Caesars and the Harrah’s properties.
It is expected to be launched in early 2022.
Horseshoe Baltimore is the second largest casino in Maryland, and most Virginians are familiar with this casino site.
Folks of Virginia are also familiar with the two Harrah’s branded casinos run by the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina.
1.2. Hard Rock Bristol Resort and Casino
This Bristol resort and casino is a perfect combination of two legacy brands. This casino is set to be made somewhere besides the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Bristol city is all set to retrace its steps from root to become the ultimate spot for devotees of gambling and music.
1.3. Pamunkey Resort and Casino in Norfolk
The Pamunkey tribe is set to open and will operate with a casino in the center of Norfolk. However, the name of the casino resort is uncertain.
This casino will be the top spot for the Virginia Beach area since it is located on the Elizabeth River banks, a hub of Norfolk.
Moreover, the location of this resort is near Chesapeake, which will bring considerable visitors to this Virginia casinos.
This Pamunkey casino house is expected to launch in Norfolk in 2022 or 2023.
1.4. River Casino Portsmouth
There will be another casino resort that is going to be situated in the middle of Virginia’s highly populated and sightseeing areas.
The bettors in Virginia can have their hands on BetRivers Sportsbook long before River Casino Portsmouth opens up in 2023. The BetRivers Sportsbook has been a popular sport betting brand for a long time.
1.5. ONE Casino and Resort
The voters of Richmond city have rejected the proposal for a casino in their town. They were against the referendum for the casino in their town. However, the ONE casino and Resort was proposed for the casino resort.
This site is an industrial area and was selected by the city from six other casino proposals.
However, if the ONE casino is approved by voters, Urban One will be the only Black majority to own this casino.
2. Facts About Retail Sportsbook in Virginia
The sports betting vent is to be available in Virginia’s physical casinos. Since Virginia does not have any other casino properties, the sportsbook may open simultaneously with casinos in Virginia.
It is reasonable and lawful to bet on sports through online sportsbooks. Besides this, you will have several choices since you can participate from your phone and join in person.
An online sportsbook will be in demand since you cannot participate in every casino. Also, before 2023 ends, there will be more than five casinos out in Virginia. But, within 2022, you can get your hands on many sports betting apps and sites in Virginia.
3. History of Gambling in Virginia
Charitable gambling was accepted in 1973, and since then, some form of gambling has also been legalized in Virginia.
Presently, Charitable gambling has varieties of bingo and poker games. Also, they generate almost $265 Million per year from the 1.125% tax. This money goes to the state.
Moreover, the Virginia Lottery board began to operate from year 1988. However, the VA Lottery board presented more than a hundred games with some free games to the Virginia residents. They also include multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions draw games.
There are roughly 5,000 retail spots in the state, and whatever profits (around 30% from ticket sales) are generated and are donated for education.
It is acknowledged that more than $595 million has been raised for schools from the lottery sales in 2021.
Even after one year of the establishment of the Virginia Lottery, horse racing has also been legalized.
From 2000 the market raised 100$ million per year in revenue till 2014 since Colonial Downs came down due to a disagreement between the owners and breeders.
Later in 2019, Colonial Downs was reopened, but due to some problems, the live racing schedule was ultimately canceled.
But, Vinton racetrack and other officials have been trying to open live racing with spectators since 2021. Even the Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock is also trying to start live racing and stop the downfall of racing.
The US Supreme Court uplifted the federal ban after two full years in May 2018 on sports betting and casino gambling in Virginia casinos.
Virginia casinos may open in 2022 or 2023, and this year will be crucial for the state as they are working to provide a gambling state with complete services.
4. Tax Revenue of Virginia Casinos
The revenue for the state is an important topic. This is why casino gambling cannot come quickly in 2022 or 2023.
However, the casinos in Virginia shall provide $262 million as tax revenue when they open in 2022 or 2023. Their revenues will be taxed on the basis of adjusted gross revenue.
- 18% tax will be charged on the first $200 million; out of that, 6% will be designated to the host city.
- If the revenue crosses $ 200 million and does not exceed $400 million, then 23% of the amount will be charged as tax, and out of that, 7% is to be designated to the host city.
- 30% tax will be charged if the casino’s revenue crosses the mark of $400 million, and 8% is to be designated to the host city.
The casino tax revenue outside of the host city shall be for the public funds. Public funds include supporting school infrastructure projects and also construction and upgrades.
They shall receive the remaining funds after the cities are paid.
- 1% of the revenue goes to the Virginia Indigenous People’s Trust Fund.
- Problem Gambling Treatment and Supporting Fund shall receive 0.8% of the remaining revenue.
- The Family and Children Trust Fund will receive 0.2%.
5. Virginia Assembly Casinos Host Cities
The Legislation gave permission for opening casino gambling in five cities.
- Bristol
- Danville
- Norfolk
- Portsmouth
- Richmond
However, these cities were selected on criteria that were set by the legislature.
- The city must have a 4% or higher unemployment rate than the state.
- It must have a 20% poverty rate.
- Decrease in population by 20% from the previous year
- The city’s real estate must be exempt from local property taxes by 40%.
All cities approved the projects except the Richmond residents during the 2020 election cycle. They even voted for a no casino referendum on 2021 Election Day.
However, they were short by half of the votes, and other casinos already passed the referendum by a convincing 2-1 margin.
6. Virginia 18+ Casinos
Old Dominion has a great history with horse racing, but the state does not provide Virginia with 18+ Casinos. However, they offer flexible off-track betting facilities, state-run and inter-state-based lotteries, charitable gaming, and, recently, daily fantasy sports leagues.
Even Virginia Racing Commission was created and held in 1989 for overseeing pari-mutuel betting activities. Customers can expect to play in these casinos: poker, blackjack, slot machines, and craps.
The residents have to cross into Maryland or neighboring states that provide 18+ casino gambling since Virginia has no commercial or tribal casino.
However, many legal online casinos have casino games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, keno, and craps.
There are many legal gaming regulations in the Old Dominion. However, it is crucial to understand what is legal and illegal in the eyes of the Federal Government, whether the residents or guests can participate in gambling or not.
One must learn everything in Old Dominion, what are legal gaming offers available to them, be it land-based or online casino gaming.
6.1. Is It Possible to Gamble At 18 In Virginia
Any player who has crossed the age of 18 is eligible to enjoy Virginia’s available legal forms of gaming. This is the minimum gambling age for players in Virginia casinos.
The players over the gambling age can access and participate in pari-mutuel wagering horse betting activities, Colonial Downs group racetrack, or even at off-track betting facilities and EZ betting terminals.
These players can even participate in Bingo halls, betting on duck races, VA lottery tickets, and can enter daily fantasy sports leagues.
Moreover, there is no law written in the Old Dominion that prohibits players from participating in legal offshore online gaming.
6.2. Is Online Gambling Legal in Virginia
Voters in Virginia voted for legalizing online sports gambling for land-based casinos. However, in the state, online casinos and poker sites are still considered illegal.
Online sportsbook betting became available in January 2021, and the brick-and-mortar casinos will be known as the retail house sportsbook. They are projected to open by early to mid-2022.
When the online casinos open with their retail sportsbooks, bettors in Virginia can wager on sports in person and online.
7. Virginia Lottery Board Casino Regulations
The Virginia State Lottery Board approved the casino regulations to govern the state-approved casino gambling operations. They also include the slot machines payout percentages, distribution of fees and taxes, and all other gambling and security.
The Virginia Lottery Board will authorize all gaming machines and other casino games available.
The Virginia Lottery Board has already passed licenses to all five cities- Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, and Richmond. However, Richmond voters said no to casinos in a referendum.
However, Charitable gaming now includes many types of bingo and poker games, which raises high funds from tax for the state.
The Virginia Lottery Board is currently offering 100 games, including multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions draw games.
7.1. Tax
- Casinos must pay the state a one-time $15 million licensing fee for 10 years.
- The casino has to pay a $50,000 fee for background investigations of casino officials and investors.
- Gross revenues shall be taxed from 18-30 %.
7.2. Gambling
According to the new law, a player must be at least 21 years of age to enter a casino.
- Casinos must advertise a responsible gambling program.
- They cannot extend credit to the gamblers.
- Wagering in cash must be banned. All gamblers have to wager through the tokens, chips, or electronic cards purchased from the casino itself.
- Slot machines wagers may range from a penny to $500.
- Slot machines payouts shall not exceed 94%.
Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay Copyright 2022
It is expected to issue licenses to recent voter-approved casinos in Caesars, Virginia in Danville, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Pamunkey Tribe Resort and Casino in Norfolk, and River Casino in Portsmouth.
However, one license is kept for future casinos in Richmond. Since the Richmond voters strongly oppose the casinos in Richmond, the license will not be given for now.
8. Funds and Plans for Virginia Casinos in Four Cities
The Virginia Lottery Board has begun opening a new casino in four cities. These four casinos will be Hard Rock Casino Bristol in Bristol, Caesars Virginia in Danville, Headwaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk, and River Casino Portsmouth in Portsmouth.
The law of Virginia also settles the problem of the Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. This will provide resources to help someone deal with the gambling problem.
Voters of these cities approved the local government’s referendums to build four casinos in these respective cities.
Moreover, Director Hall said that Virginia’s first casinos would not open before spring or summer of 2022.
i) Hard Rock Casino Bristol
The hotel project will be built on the site of the former Bristol Mall with a $400 million casino.
The plan of this casino will include a 90,000 square-foot-casino with a live concert venue and a gambling room of 600-1000 room hotel with free internet access.
ii) Caesars Virginia
Caesars Entertainment will take $400 million for the casino resort project in Danville. The casino gaming will open in the fourth quarter of 2023.
iii) Headwater Resort & Casino Gaming
The casino gaming of Pamunkey Indian Tribe will fully open in 2023. The expected expenditure will be around $700 million for building the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
iv) River Casino Portsmouth
The casino gaming of Virginia River Casino Portsmouth shall open in 2022 with an expected expenditure of $300 million.
v) One Casino + Resort
The gambling area of Richmond will have to wait for more than one year since the Richmond voters rejected the building of a casino in Richmond. However, the complex was planned for $517 million for the casino gambling area.
Bottom Line
Gaming through online sportsbooks is far better easy and safe. They are valid, legitimate, and safe to bet on sports. However, the casinos in Virginia will not open before 2022 or 2023.
In addition, the online sportsbook will arrive with the casinos in Virginia. Though you will get the same odds as in casinos, you can join in many games at one time.
Gambling on online sportsbooks while sitting at a bar grill can give you the atmosphere of the retail sportsbook. Moreover, the VL government will regulate all forms of gambling in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
They will be in charge of setting regulations for online sportsbooks and retail casinos and sportsbooks.
You will get a lot of gaming options to play online. There will be many websites and other gambling apps for you to play online. So, it is better to go with online gambling.
