Virginia Online Gambling Laws
If you love playing casino games for fun or for money, it’s important to be aware of the Virginia online casino gambling laws before attempting to make any bets within the state. Unfortunately, the fines and punishments for being found guilty of online gambling can be hefty within the Old Dominion. According to § 18.2-326, the punishment for being found guilty of gambling illegally through interstate means (such as online betting) is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
A Class 3 misdemeanor might not get you any jail time, but it might lead to a fine of up to $500! If you don’t like to play casino games but do like to wager on other things, it’s important to be aware of Virginia’s stance on other online forms of gambling. For instance, Virginia has not legalized any other form of horse betting besides ADW.
According to the VA casino gaming law, if you’re found guilty of betting on a horse race with an unlicensed entity or are found guilty of betting any other form besides ADW, you’ll be found guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This means you might incur a fine of up to $2,500 and one year in jail. In short, it’s important to research the current laws behind online gambling in Virginia to avoid hefty fees.
How Does Virginia Regulate Gambling?
There are three major players who regulate gambling in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery Board is the biggest and most important of these three. They regulate the state’s lottery, which provides essential funds for education programs from K-12. In addition, they also regulate casino gambling and sports betting.
If online casino gaming were to be legalized, it’s likely that the Lottery Board would be the body that takes over regulating online casino games. However, since Virginia online casinos remain banned, the Lottery Board only has the power to regulate in-person casinos. This is crucial to note since any lost wages from gambling with an unlicensed or offshore online casino will not be recovered!
The state also has the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), which regulates all charitable gaming. These charitable gaming events include bingo, keno, and similar games that allow non-profit organizations to raise funding for their charities. Lastly, the Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) regulates live horse racing, horse betting, and historic horse racing, or HHR.
Virginia has three large bodies that regulate different aspects of gambling. While it’s a great way to ensure all types of casino games, from in-person to slots, are regulated, it can also be confusing for players to know where to turn to for help. It’s best to check with these individual government agencies directly for more information and resources.
