Legal Online Poker in Virginia

by Adrian Sterne Updated: September 11, 2023

Poker had been illegal in Virginia for a very long time. In 2019, the state finally left its comfort zone and decided to regulate land-based gambling venues, granting them the right to offer live poker games.

Is Poker Legal in VA?
Best Online VA Poker Sites
How To Signup On A VA Poker Site
Where To Play Poker In VA
Resources
FAQ

Considering this crucial change happened relatively recently, it’s no wonder Virginia hasn’t moved forward with online poker legislation. Nevertheless, as the Old Dominion allows DFS and online sports betting, it’s safe to assume that online poker will follow soon. Yet, until it becomes officially legal, players can hone their poker skills in several other ways we’ll discuss in this text.

Is Online Poker Legal in Virginia?

Not that long ago, in 2019, Virginia finally broke the wall between its poker fans and legal poker gameplay by regulating land-based gambling. Unfortunately, online poker still remains inaccessible, even though the state legalized DFS and online sports betting.

One of the legal ways to play poker includes joining sweepstakes sites. However, true poker fans find these sites unsatisfactory as they don’t offer real money bets. As an alternative, they massively visit offshore poker rooms, which host various cash games and tournaments.

The state of Virginia doesn’t exactly consider international poker sites legal. Still, as the platforms operate outside the state borders, offshore operators aren’t obliged to follow VA laws. Moreover, Virginia hasn’t prosecuted players for joining these poker rooms, but if you need further reassurance, feel free to consult a legal expert.

Poker Laws

Law This legal document explains poker in Virginia in more specific terms. Read through it to find out all the details:

Code of Virginia — Title 18.2, Article 1 — Gambling

Best Legal Poker Rooms in Virginia

Even though Virginia arrived rather late to the poker-themed party, it now offers a few opportunities for players interested in playing this world-known card game. Let’s review the available land-based and online poker rooms you can visit from VA.

Legal Online Poker in Virginia

When it comes to legal online poker in Virginia, players can only rely on sweepstakes poker sites. These platforms feature several poker variants but don’t accept real money bets. While these can be fun, they certainly won’t be enough for true poker aficionados, let alone poker pros.

Luckily, you can find various offshore online poker rooms where VA residents are welcome. These sites aren’t Virginia-based, so they don’t have to comply with its laws and regulations. This has conveniently placed them in the gray zone from which they’ve been serving players worldwide and secured substantial player traffic.

On top of that, international poker sites have a lot to offer to both experienced players and novices. The operators offer popular Texas Hold’em and Omaha games, along with other options like Stud and Draw. Tournaments take place regularly and come in the form of freerolls, MTTs, knockouts, freezeouts, and others, while some sites go as far as to give 7-figure guarantees.

My list of the best US poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:

BetOnline Poker
Ignition Poker
Everygame Poker
Juicy Stakes Poker
ACR Poker
Bovada Poker
BlackChip Poker
SportsBetting Poker

100% Legal & Licensed Verified Bonus Mobile Friendly Advertiser Disclosure. Must be +18 to participate.

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Legal Land-Based Poker in Virginia

Virginia legalized land-based casinos and poker rooms only a few years ago, in 2019. Yet, the state let the cities approve projects to construct gambling venues through local referendums. A year later, in 2020, four cities announced building plans — Portsmouth, Bristol, Norfolk, and Danville.

So far, only Portsmouth completed the works on its land-based casino. The poker room at Rivers Casino Portsmouth is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. and offers a few different game options. You can take part in daily games like $500 Royal Flush or grab a Bad Beat Jackpot going up to $100,000. Every now and then, the casino also organizes time-limited games, such as the Hot Seat variant or other exclusive events.

Another place where VA players can play poker is a temporary casino in Bristol. The so-called “Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock” currently occupies the former Bristol Mall and acts as a fill-in for the future Hard Rock Casino, which should open in 2024. Available games include Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud, and Three Card Poker.

How to Register at a Legal Online Poker Site in Virginia

Signing up with any online poker room on our page won’t take more than a few minutes. After you’ve compared their game selection, bonus offers, and tournament schedule, it’s time to pick one and become its member.

Here’s how:

Choose A Poker Room

Select the online poker room from our list and click on the link to the official website.

Signup

Once there, look for the registration button and click on it to open the sign-up form. Provide the required information, confirm you’re over 18, and agree to the site’s terms and conditions.

Most sites require verification before they let you log in for the first time. You’ll receive the authentication link either through your email or via SMS. Follow the instructions to verify your new account and finalize your registration.

Deposit & Play

Offshore sites offer welcome bonuses to newly-registered members, but these deals come with terms and conditions you must follow. Check them in advance to see how to claim the welcome prize.

Head to the banking section and choose the payment method for funding your account and withdrawing your winnings. Also, check whether the site accepts withdrawals using your chosen deposit method so you can select the most convenient option from the start. Before confirming your choice, take into account transaction limits, speed, and fees. Also, make sure to deposit the minimum amount required to activate the welcome bonus.

Go to the game lobby and explore your options in terms of game and tournament types. When you spot an interesting choice, read the details related to buy-in, betting limits, and other competition rules.

Now that you’re all set, find a comfortable position and start playing!

Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker

Several years after it allowed land-based gambling, Virginia opened one official casino with a live poker room and one temporary gambling venue. Until the state completes the construction of all approved brick-and-mortar casinos, VA players can take part in live poker games at these two locations:

Rivers Casino Portsmouth — 3630 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23701
Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock (temporary casino) — 500 Gate City Hwy, Bristol, VA 24201

Other Resources

Final Thoughts

Virginia is on its way to becoming a state that’s fully open to poker and gambling in general. Its legal land-based casinos with poker rooms are being constructed as we speak, with a couple of venues already operating. We’re now waiting for the state to consider online poker legislation, as it would complement legal online sports betting and DFS.

Meanwhile, VA players looking for online poker action can find it at offshore poker rooms, where cash games and tournaments take place 24/7.

FAQ

Is online poker legal in Virginia?

No, online poker still hasn’t become legal in Virginia, nor are there any active bills proposing its legislation. However, online sports betting and DFS, which are available in VA, have most likely paved the way for online poker rooms. Still, until online poker obtains legal status in Virginia, you can take part in cash games and tournaments on offshore poker sites.

Are there land-based poker rooms in Virginia?

Virginia currently has two land-based gambling venues with poker tables — Rivers Casino Portsmouth and a temporary Bristol Casino.

Who oversees casino gambling in Virginia?

The Virginia Lottery Board supervises all licensed casino gambling in the Old Dominion.

Are there any online poker promotions available to Virginia players?

Yes, there are. Players who join offshore poker rooms can benefit from various promotions, such as welcome offers, cashback deals, reload bonuses, and enticing VIP programs.