Can You Play Online Poker in Virginia? 

No, you cannot play poker online for real money in Virginia. In fact, live casinos only started receiving attention in the state recently, with legislators finally giving the go-ahead for cities to vote on casino gambling. There is only one fully operational land-based casino in all of Virginia with a live poker table, but online poker remains illegal within the state. 

Why Not? What Are the Online Poker Laws in Virginia?

The law in Virginia is not friendly towards online poker and gambling in general. It contains several stiff clauses meant to discourage organizing and participating in various forms of gambling activities, including playing poker online for real money. 

The law prohibits placing or receiving bets or wagers on any game of chance with the goal of winning money or anything of value. This law summarily prohibits gambling unless in forms authorized by the state. Sports betting and live poker games in brick-and-mortar casinos were recently legalized by the state, but Virginia online poker is yet to join the list of legal gambling activities in the state. 

Despite these limitations, residents of Virginia who want to play poker online for real money can do so on offshore sites – but there are serious risks involved. Offshore gambling sites are licensed in locations outside the United States. They host a variety of online poker games, and they offer players from Virginia and other parts of the country a chance to play for real money.

Although offshore sites might seem like a good workaround for Virginia online poker restrictions, players should be aware of the potential dangers of playing poker on these sites. Offshore sites are not regulated by US authorities. Many of them are licensed in locations with weak gambling laws, which allows them to get away with unfair gaming practices. 

There’s also no guarantee of withdrawing your money when you play on these sites, and there are no legal measures to protect you. Due to these reasons, MyPokerCoaching does not recommend playing poker on offshore sites. 

Potential Virginia Poker Sites to Launch in the Future

Poker has been popular in Virginia for many years, but the state is still to regulate online poker sites. There have been several attempts at it over the years, but so far, none have come to fruition.

It is a pretty safe bet that online poker in VA will be regulated at some point in the future, so the only real question is when. While it’s hard to give any definitive answer at this point in time, we continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated with any important developments.

When online poker is finally legal in VA, there are a few sites that we can expect to go live. These are all operators with a major presence in the regulated US market, and they’ll likely jump at the opportunity to expand their presence.

BetMGM Poker Virginia

BetMGM has established itself as a household name in the regulated US online poker space, and the operator will likely be among the first to stake a claim in such an attractive new market.

We expect BetMGM Poker will bring out a platform similar to that in other states like PA, MI, and NJ. A poker client powered by the PartyPoker technology offers a modern and very reliable solution for all online poker fans, even if it is not as rich in functionalities as some other platforms.

In terms of game variety, players can look forward to a nice mix of online tournaments, a wide range of cash game stakes, and, in all likelihood, BetMGM Poker’s staple SPINS – a hugely popular sit & go variation featuring a random jackpot.

It is also likely that BetMGM Poker VA will come out of the gate swinging, offering a generous welcome bonus. With what’s likely to be heavy competition in the state, all sites will look for ways to stand out, and this is generally a good thing for the players.

PokerStars Virginia

Although the company couldn’t enter the US before 2016, PokerStars has established itself as a staple name of online poker in the country, just like they have done in the global market.

Once the regulation is finally passed, the launch of PokerStars is pretty much a guarantee. This is especially true if the state passes a law with the expectation of joining the MSIGA, as the operator seems eager to take advantage of opportunities provided by interstate poker.

But even without that particular element, VA is a big enough market on its own.

What PokerStars brings to the table is the operator’s experience in organizing major online series, first and foremost. US versions of ‘COOP events have been hugely successful in all states where the site currently has a presence, and there is no reason to think Virginia would be an exception.

PokerStars also offers one of the best software solutions for desktop computers and mobile devices alike. This enhances the player experience and certainly helps push the site towards the top of the list when deciding where to play.

WSOP Virginia

The third VA poker site likely to go live as soon as legal requirements are met is WSOP.com. Right now, WSOP is the only operator present in all regulated US markets with active poker sites, and the company is on the constant lookout for expansion opportunities.

WSOP.com has one trump card that no other operators can match, which is its ability to host bracelet-awarding events and exclusive satellites to live World Series of Poker tournaments. This has helped the operator remain competitive across the country.

A launch in a new state would likely mean an exclusive bracelet series, giving players in the state great opportunities to win some WSOP silverware from the comfort of their home, and if past experience is any indicator, this is an opportunity that players jump on.

WSOP should have no problem claiming its fair share of the new market despite competitors, with the operators’ numbers surging during major live and online events.