Virginia casino apps

This page contains information about the legal status of Virginia casino apps, including which platforms could be headed to VA after online gambling expansion.

By: Dan Bradley

| Last Updated: July 2, 2024

Table of contents

Best expected casino apps in Virginia
Are casino apps legal in Virginia?
Are there any active bills to legalize casino apps in Virginia?
How you will be able to sign up for a casino app in Virginia
Online casino games you will be able to play at casino apps in Virginia
Possible banking options at online casino apps in Virginia
Pros and cons of casino apps vs. desktop online casinos in Virginia
Why should you avoid offshore casino apps?
FAQ

Online casino gambling is still illegal under Virginia law, but recent legislative efforts indicate momentum may be growing to expand the state’s betting laws. The practice is currently legal in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, among a spattering of others across the country, and losing out on revenue to neighboring and nearby states could spur VA to approve iGaming legislation.

In this piece, we’ll take a look at the expected Virginia casino apps, as well as provide updates with the state’s casino legislation news. We will also overview the signup process, along with what games and banking options will be available.

Best expected casino apps in Virginia

Once online casino gambling in Virginia is approved and sets a launch window, the state can begin accepting applications from casino operators. We’ll have a fuller list at that time, but until then, here are some of the top operators we expect will make an impact in the VA market.

DraftKings Casino Virginia

DraftKings has come a long way since its early operations as a daily fantasy sports (DFS) website. It has since become a powerhouse in the world of online sports betting and also now runs an online casino platform.

Patrons at DK Casino can expect an expansive list of online slots, including many with sports tie-ins. However, these are mostly for professional sports, not collegiate, so games centered around the Washington Capitals, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, and Baltimore Orioles may be more likely to appear.

BetRivers Casino Virginia

BetRivers headquarters its online casino operations at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh (thus the name), and it has slowly but steadily expanded across the country. The platform’s somewhat local regional presence makes it seem to be a natural fit for Virginia expansion.

We highly recommend players enroll in the iRush Rewards program, which includes things like bonus bets, free spins, expedited customer service, and much more. The site also features many slots with an RTP rate of 96.00% or higher.

Caesars Palace Online Casino Virginia

Caesars Palace entered the online casino space in 2013, outdating many of the other top operators in the country. In our experiences in other states, the website platform has been superior to the app, but the gap has narrowed in recent years.

You can already play at the Caesars Casino in Danville, VA, so having an established brick-and-mortar presence in the state should lead to early success following the digital launch.

FanDuel Casino Virginia

Like DraftKings, FanDuel began as a DFS operator, and the two frequently compete for the title of top-earning sports betting operator in states where both platforms are licensed and operating. We have no doubt this will continue into the casino space should both launch in Virginia.

FanDuel’s app outclasses its browser-based companion with lightning-fast load times and optimized game displays. The casino app should also seamlessly integrate with the sportsbook, DFS, and horse race betting softwares.

BetMGM Casino Virginia

Last on our list but certainly not least, BetMGM Casino should thrive in Virginia thanks to its excellent library of casino classics that is well balanced with modern favorites. The rewards program is a must, and you’ll often find the casino loaded with lucrative bonuses.

The app has more than 450 slot games on the platform. Players will also enjoy the table game offerings, including live blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

Are casino apps legal in Virginia?

No, casino apps are not legal in Virginia. Online casino gambling is still heavily prohibited throughout much of the United States, including in VA. The only betting apps Virginians can use are for VA online sports betting, playing the Virginia Lottery, and horse race betting.

As of March 31, 2024, the seven states that have launched online casino gambling are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia

Are there any active bills to legalize casino apps in Virginia?

No, there are not any active bills to legalize casino apps in Virginia as of March 31, 2024. However, there is a bill that has advanced to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk which would legalize what are known as “gray machines,” so named for the legal gray area in which they operate (largely over whether they are truly skill-based or if they are primarily luck-based games).

If Youngkin signs the bill into law, these gray machines would be allowed to operate in Virginia by approved operators and with taxation in place on all winnings. However, a similar bill was rejected last year, and Youngkin’s office has previously expressed concerns over several key pieces of the bill’s verbiage.

Signing up for a casino app in Virginia is quick and easy - most users are signed up and playing within 5-10 minutes. The steps you’ll need to follow may be in a slightly different order than what is listed below, but in general, these are the things you’ll need to do:

Research the available operators: Whenever Virginia approves online casino gambling and determines a launch date, we will thoroughly review each licensed casino app that will be going live in the state. Our goal is to provide you with the most well-informed approach to online casino gambling so your experiences are as positive as possible. These reviews will highlight key areas of performance, including game library volume, bonus frequency and magnitude, app aesthetics and reliability on Apple and Android devices, rewards programs, and an overall score comprised of several important metrics.
Finish the signup process: As mentioned above, the registration process shouldn’t take you more than about 10 minutes to complete. Virginia gamblers may need to upload a photocopy of their driver’s license or other government-issued ID, though it’s unclear if this detail would be required. However, at a minimum, players will be required to provide their legal first and last name, date of birth, street address (no P.O. Boxes), email address, phone number, and the last four digits of their social security number.
Download the online casino from the app store: It is important to note that several online casino operators have apps that only function in certain states while others are accessible from any state where the casino holds a license. Be sure you find the correct version when browsing the app store!
Access your account and deposit your funds: Before you’ll be allowed to gamble through an online casino app, you’ll need to make a deposit into your account. This rule applies even if you intend to take advantage of any bonus credits or free spins that were part of your welcome Virginia online casino bonus offer. A list of expected payment options has been provided below and will be updated once Virginia approves online casino gambling legislation.
Claim the welcome bonus and start gambling: Finally, once you’ve finished the above steps, browse through the list of games at the casino, find something you enjoy playing and always practice responsible gambling with your chosen platforms!

Online casino games you will be able to play at casino apps in Virginia

One of the best indicators of the quality of an online casino is the size of the game catalog on the platform. In general, a larger selection of games would mean the casino operator has a more steady financial backing to offer such a list of games. Here are a few of the most common options you’ll see.

Online slots: Slot-based games (video slots, progressive jackpot, bingo slots, etc) account for the bulk of online casino libraries. They also carry the most variants, especially in terms of thematic elements (Old West, futuristic, sports, Egyptian, Hawaiian, etc.), so you’re almost guaranteed to find something you’ll enjoy!
Blackjack: Blackjack is also sometimes called “21,” since the aim of the game is to score a higher hand than the dealer without passing a hand value of 21. Aces can be worth 1 or 11, and all face cards have a value of 10. Variations can include the number of decks in play, the number of seats at the table, surrender (where the player folds their hand before any additional cards are dealt, allowing them to reclaim half their initial stake), and other theme-based options.
Video poker: Video poker is very similar to traditional five-card draw poker by using a random number generator (RNG) to come up with a five-card hand. Then, players will have the option to swap at least one card out of their hand, receiving one replacement card from the deck for each one they discard. For most games, the minimum hand strength required for a payout is a pair of Jacks; payouts increase depending on the rarity level of each winning combination.

Possible banking options at online casino apps in Virginia

There are a number of possible banking options at online casino apps in Virginia, though there will be some variance from operator to operator. Here are a few of the most common options we expect based on what other states allow and what VA utilizes for sports betting.

Online banking
Debit cards
PayPal
PayNearMe
Paysafe card
Prepaid casino gift card
Skrill
Venmo
Google Pay
Apple Pay
Wire transfer

Pros and cons of casino apps vs. desktop online casinos in Virginia

The decision on whether to use casino apps or desktop online casinos when both options are legal and live in Virginia will be a matter of personal preference. To help you make your decision, we’ve listed a few pros and cons of each option so you’ll be as informed as possible from Day One.

Pros

Casino apps do a better job with notifications: With casino apps, you don’t have to worry about missing out on a lucrative bonus offer or an exclusive game with higher payouts for loyalty members. While you may still get notifications through a web-based platform, they can be far easier to miss, especially if the site is running in the background while you’re in another tab or program.
Casino apps can be used anywhere: If you’ve got a stable internet connection (or at least cellular data), you’ll be able to use casino apps from anywhere within the state borders. Just be careful with the data, as it will likely require more data usage than other mobile apps you regularly use.
Casino apps are customizable: Are you someone who prefers a dark-mode display? Or maybe you want to change which games show up as soon as you open the app? With apps, you have much more freedom to customize the display and program to be optimal for the way you like to play, while desktop online casinos tend to have more static customization options.

Cons

Desktop platforms don’t require updates: When playing using a mobile casino app, you’ll need to remember to update your platform. The easiest way to do that is with a manual update so the app doesn’t automatically try to install the latest software while you’re playing. With a desktop casino, you’ll always be using the latest version of the platform.
Desktop apps have larger screens: Misplaying a wager can be much easier on a mobile device if you’re using a smaller screen than on a desktop. Don’t fall victim to “fat fingering” and wager an amount different than what you intended!
Desktop casinos won’t strain your battery life: Both online casinos and mobile casino apps will require you to have location services set to “on” to verify you are within state borders while gambling. However, you’re likely to have your desktop device plugged in while playing, so the extra geolocation tool won’t drain your battery. This is not the case on a mobile app, and if you are playing while using mobile data instead of an internet connection, your battery could die in a hurry.

Why should you avoid offshore casino apps?

Offshore casino apps should always be avoided; they are unsafe to use and are vastly inferior to their legitimate counterparts. Here are a few of the main reasons why you should only play with licensed, regulated online casinos.

Offshore casinos can cheat: One major advantage of playing at licensed online casino operators is that you can be assured all games are run in a fair manner. This is especially true for online slot games where it can be much easier to skew a return-to-player rate. Offshore books don’t have to report payout rates to a governing body, and they don’t have to maintain a minimum payout percentage, either by the number of games played or the number of dollars won.
Offshore casinos may choose to not pay out: It isn’t uncommon for offshore casinos to limit the amount of money they pay out following significant wins. If you hit a jackpot or make a big win at video poker, it’s possible your account is flagged for what the offshore apps call “unusual activity” and then withhold your payouts, releasing it incrementally or not at all.
Offshore casinos don’t have to protect your information: Legitimate online casino apps undergo rigorous testing and must maintain rigid standards for consumer protection, cybersecurity, and financial regulations. Because offshore casinos operate outside of the same legal jurisdictions, they can play fast and loose with the rules, even potentially selling your personal and banking information so they can have enough money to make their payouts.

FAQ

Are casino apps usually available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store?

Yes, casino apps are usually available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The apps are available for download ahead of a potential Virginia online casino launch date, but you will not be able to use them until launch day.

Will casino apps be regulated in Virginia?

Yes, casino apps will be regulated in Virginia if/when the state decides to approve online casino gambling. Casino app oversight will likely fall to the Virginia Lottery, which already oversees online sports betting and lottery gaming in the state.

Will every online casino have a mobile app in Virginia?

No, there will still be a few online casinos that will not launch a mobile app in Virginia. However, many of the industry giants such as BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetRivers have already launched their mobile apps in other states and will flock to VA following legislative approval.

Can I use sweepstakes casino apps in Virginia?

Yes, you can use sweepstakes casino apps in Virginia. The state has not prohibited sweepstakes/social casino gaming, so this is a great alternative while waiting for the VA legislature to approve real-money online casino gambling.

Author Details

Dan Bradley

Dan Bradley, a sports betting expert and author at VA Betting, brings a unique perspective with his background in junior hockey. Outside of evaluating Virginia sportsbooks, Dan dedicates his time to watching as many NHL games as he can.