Best Virginia Betting Promos: Top VA Sportsbook Bonuses in May
In terms of Virginia sportsbook promos, there’s a great selection to choose from. The Old Dominion State plays host to 11 top sportsbook brands who all bring their own promos to the table.
The Best Online Betting Promotions in May for Virginia
+2 
+2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $4.99
- Time Limit: 60 days
- Bonus Difficulty: Easy
+2 +2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $1
- Time Limit: 203 days
I’ll start off by exploring the legalities of sports betting in the state before moving onto the types of sports betting promotions you are likely to find. I’ll also give tips on choosing the right sportsbook for you, and explain why it’s important to look beyond the welcome bonus.
Pros and Cons of Virginia sportsbook promos
Virginia sports betting - availability and restrictions
Laws in the state of Virginia are fairly strict, and sports betting is not excluded. Engaging in the ‘wrong’ type of betting activity can result in a hefty fine and a criminal record, so it’s important for you to know what you can or cannot do in the Old Dominion State.
Permitted sports betting
Virginia state authorities legalized both retail and online sports betting in April 2020 and appointed the Virginia Lottery to issue sportsbook licenses and oversee regulation.
Betting in accordance with the following categories is allowed:
- In-person sports betting at licensed casinos in the state
- Online with a licensed online sports betting brand
- All professional sports, including the NHL, NBA, and international leagues
Betting on horse racing is also permitted, but is handled separately by the Virginia Racing Commission. At present, horse racing bets cannot be placed online, only in-person at licensed racetracks.
Restricted sports betting
For as much as there is plenty of scope within the permitted forms of sports betting, it’s quite important to understand that it’s a criminal offense to place bets anywhere except at the retail outlets, or online sportsbooks licensed by the Virginia Lottery.
In addition, there are specific events that you cannot bet on:
- Greyhound racing
- Any amateur sport, including the Olympics and Winter Olympics
- College games contested by state teams
- Any high school or other team where the players are under 18 years of age
Note that there has been some recent legal discussion concerning player prop bets for pro teams including the NBA and NHL. However, at the time of writing, no formal changes have been made.
Information for Virginia sports bettors
Interestingly, the Old Dominion State has 18 sportsbook licenses available, but only 11 online sports betting sites are currently licensed by the Virginia Lottery. These are the only sites where you can legally sign up and claim any of the available bonuses and promotions.
| Category | Availability |
| Age | 21 years old, or above |
| Accessibility | Must be physically present in Virginia to place bets |
| In-person sports betting | Available at 5 licensed casinos |
| Online sports betting | Available at 11 licensed online sportsbooks |
+2 +2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $4.99
- Time Limit: 60 days
- Bonus Difficulty: Easy
+2 +2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $1
- Time Limit: 203 days
An overview of Virginia sportsbook bonuses and promotions
It’s taken a while for me to get to this point, but I felt it was essential for you to understand the legalities of sports betting in the Old Dominion State first, especially as there are harsh penalties for going outside of the law.
I’ll begin with the main types of Virginia sportsbook promos that you are likely to find offered as a sign up bonus, then move on to ongoing promos, which are fairly similar to the sportsbook promos in NC and other states where online sportsbooks are legal.
Matched Deposit Bonuses
Matched deposit bonuses: As the name suggests, for this type of bonus you need to make a minimum deposit to qualify, which the sportsbook will match with a specific percentage of bonus credit, up to a certain amount. The exact details will vary from brand to brand, but a typical example would be a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $500.
First Bet Safety Net
First Bet Safety Net: You may see a sportsbook sign up offer like ‘A First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000’. A minimum deposit amount will usually be applicable, and you may find that only certain bet types are allowed. The most important thing to remember is that only the first bet you place will count, and you will only receive this bonus if your first bet loses.
Bet and Get Bonuses
Bet and Get bonuses: This is a popular option at sports betting sites. The premise is very straightforward, you’ll need to deposit a minimum amount and place a qualifying bet. Once it settles, you’ll receive some bonus bets. An example would be Bet $10, Get $100 in free bets. Some brands may add a clause that your first bet must either win or lose to receive the bonus, others may apply wagering requirements to the bonus bet amount.
Virginia sportsbook promos for existing bettors
You’re sure to find numerous variations on this theme, but the most prevalent ongoing promotions are these:
Boosted odds
Typically applied to specific betting markets, or a certain sports event. When you accept boosted odds, if the bet goes in your favor, you’ll receive a bigger return.
Parlay insurance
If you opt for parlay insurance, you will still receive a return if one selection lets you down, albeit a smaller one.
Free bets
There are a number of different scenarios where free bets are issued as a sportsbook promo whether in Ohio, NY or Virginia:
- Issued as an individual reward to a bettor, typically sent by email, or as a push notification
- Available to all bettors for a specific event the sportsbook is promoting
- When betting on a specific event, a sportsbook may offer a deal in return for placing a bet with your own money. E.g. Bet $5 on The Masters, and get $10 of free bets.
The importance of looking beyond Virginia sportsbook promos
I mentioned right at the start that it’s always wise to look past the initial offer a sports betting site is advertising. After all, once that first bonus is done and dusted, you’ll still be using the site regularly. Below are a couple of things to consider.
Offers for Existing Bettors
The availability of ongoing promotions shows clear intent on the part of a sportsbook to keep its customer base engaged and happy. All of the Virginia sportsbook brands you’ll see listed on the banners of this page provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy perks as you bet, it’s just a matter of deciding which site has the best deals for your favorite sport.
Sports and Betting Markets
While most sports betting sites tend to favor local teams playing in major leagues like the NHL, NFL, and NBA, somewhat unusually, Virginia doesn’t have any homegrown pro teams. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to bet on major league clashes, it means you’ll find more lower league events featuring the likes of Virginia Beach United (USL), Virginia Dream FC (NPSL) and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League baseball). It’s also no secret that many Virginians avidly support teams in neighbouring Washington DC, so you can also expect plenty of betting markets for the Wizards and Commanders too.
A final recap of Virginia sportsbook promos
Sports betting is legal in Virginia, albeit with some fairly strict laws. You can place in-person bets at five licensed casinos, or online with any of the 11 sportsbooks licensed by the Virginia Lottery. With 11 major sports betting brands represented, it almost goes without saying that you will have an abundance of Virginia sportsbook promos to look forward to.
It may be the case that you’ve already decided which sportsbook to sign up with, but if you are still deciding, you can compare the sportsbook promos at NY or wherever you are located by scrolling through the banners on this page. In either case, when you’re ready to go just click on the appropriate link to go to your chosen sportsbook site and get started.
Sportsbook bonuses to not be missed for 2026
+2 +2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $4.99
- Time Limit: 60 days
- Bonus Difficulty: Easy
+2 +2 - Bonus Difficulty: Easy
- Min. package: $1
- Time Limit: 203 days
Virginia sportsbook promos FAQs
Are there any Virginia sportsbook promos available?
Just as there are legalized sites with sportsbook promos in Tennessee, you will find 11 legally licensed sportsbooks available in the Old Dominion State, which are the only sites Virginians are permitted to use. All of the top sports betting brands are represented, meaning there are plenty of excellent sign up bonuses to choose from.
Who can claim sports betting bonuses in Virginia?
You must be at least 21 years old to sign up at a sports betting site and claim Virginia sportsbook promos. It’s also worth noting that only sportsbooks licensed by the Virginia Lottery are legal to use, and that you will only be able to access these sites when you are physically present in Virginia.
Are there any restrictions on using Virginia sportsbook promos?
Not so much restrictions on bonuses, it’s more about the sports you cannot legally bet on in the Old Dominion State. The main exclusions are in-state college teams, any teams with players under the age of 18 years, and amateur sports, which rules out using bonuses to bet on the Olympics, or Winter Olympics.
