In-State College Sports Betting In Virginia Deemed Illegal. Here’s Why.

March is a month filled with madness, as the NCAA Tournament shines a spotlight on college sports betting nationwide.

State laws on sports betting vary, including in Virginia where college athletics take center stage. In Virginia, it is against the law to place bets on in-state teams. Consequently, betting on Virginia or VCU in the NCAA Tournament, Virginia Tech or Liberty in the NIT, and Radford in the CBI is strictly prohibited.

This is a comprehensive examination of the existing gambling laws in Virginia pertaining to college sports.

You can’t bet on Virginia, VCU basketball during March Madness

The NCAA Tournament is widely recognized as one of the most favored sporting events for placing bets. However, despite the continuous basketball action spanning over two consecutive days, residents of Virginia are unable to gamble on their local teams. Consequently, betting on the Virginia Cavaliers and VCU Rams in the upcoming 2024 NCAA Tournament is not permitted.

Those individuals who were planning to bet on the Cavaliers winning the national championship might find this to be positive news. Unfortunately, Virginia, who was ranked 4th, suffered a defeat against Furman, marking their second first-round loss to a 13-seed team in three tournaments since their title victory.

Having said that, all other programs are open for consideration. For instance, residents of Virginia can place bets on the second round of Saturday’s game, whether it is on Furman making an unexpected Cinderella run or losing against No. 5 San Diego State.

Forget about prop betting on in-state college basketball, too

Betting on college sports, including prop betting, is strictly prohibited, as per Virginia law. This law extends to all college programs, regardless of whether they are in-state teams or not.

This implies refraining from placing bets on specific player’s point or rebound over-under, for instance.

To comply with Virginia’s ban on prop betting, live betting on any college event, including non-Virginia teams, is also prohibited. Therefore, if you plan to place wagers on such events this month, ensure that you submit your bets prior to the start of the game.

Once the game commences, all wagers are no longer valid.

You can’t wager on college sporting events in Virginia

Residents of Virginia are prohibited from placing bets on events, even if they involve two teams from outside the state competing within Virginia.

If, for example, the NCAA chooses to hold some first- and second-round games in Virginia, VA sports betting operators will not be allowed to accept bets on those games, regardless of whether they involve out-of-state teams such as Gonzaga or Arizona.

In order for a college bet to be considered legal, it must be held outside of Virginia and should not involve any teams from within the state.

Two bills in 2024 looked to change Virginia college betting ban

Lawmakers made an attempt in 2024 to alter Virginia’s position on intrastate school gambling.

Senate Bill 576 was introduced by Senator Monty Mason, who belongs to the Democratic party and represents Williamsburg. Although it successfully passed in the Senate, the bill unfortunately met its demise in the House General Laws Committee.

In a previous occurrence during the same year, Del. Shuyler VanValkenberg’s proposed bill, HB 1127, encountered failure in the House. Notably, prominent entities like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel lent their support to this legislation.

Nevertheless, HB1127 would not completely unlock the doors for college sports betting, as it solely permits wagering on the overall result of a game. The prohibition on prop betting within the state would still remain intact.

Why can’t VA residents bet on in-state teams?

Legislators unanimously agreed that implementing the ban is ultimately for the welfare of students. This stands as one of the primary reasons opposing the proposition, not only in Virginia but nationwide.

David Bulova, a representative from Fairfax, informed the Virginia Mercury that the individuals in question are aged 18, 19, and 20.

In 2024, Del. David Bulova stated that it was premature to reconsider VanValkenburg’s HB 1127, as the state had already legalized sports betting in 2020.

However, he emphasized the notion that placing bets on local teams may be detrimental to the student-athletes.

He stated that although some of these occurrences may happen unlawfully, the intention is to protect and prioritize the well-being of our Virginia students. The objective is to ensure that we do not endorse or support such activities.

How do Virginia’s college sports betting laws compare to neighboring states?

Virginia shares its border with five states: Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

The college sports betting laws in Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina are identical. They allow betting on in-state teams as well as prop bets on local college programs.

Unlike other states, Tennessee permits betting on its in-state schools but does not allow prop betting.

On the other hand, out of all the neighboring states, Kentucky remains the sole state without any form of sports betting. Notably, Kentucky is among the mere 10 states that are yet to legalize sports betting.

Online sports betting is the sole option available in Tennessee, while North Carolina exclusively offers in-person wagering at its tribal casinos. However, there are indications that North Carolina may soon permit mobile sports betting through new legislation. On the other hand, Maryland and West Virginia provide both retail and online sports wagering options.