Sports betting applications in Virginia to begin in October. The Virginia Lottery has given initial approval to four developers seeking to build commonwealth casinos, and announced that they are seeking input on the proposed sports betting laws.
Applications for sports betting licenses are scheduled to begin accepting in October and approved gaming platforms will begin offering the first legal wagers on sports in Virginia in January 2021.
The new regulations on licensing and consumer safety were posted on the Virginia Lottery website on Wednesday, with rules covering operational matters to be published in August. Those interested in submitting feedback on the regulations can do so online through the Lottery General Notice board before the public comment period closes in September.
The sports wagering legislation authorizes the Virginia Lottery to issue up to 12 licenses for mobile-only sports betting platforms. The law allows legal betting on most major league and college sports. However, it prohibits wagers on games involving teams from Virginia colleges and universities.
The proposed regulations require mobile platforms to verify that customers are at least 21 years old. Customers would also need to be physically present in Virginia in order to legally place an online sports bet.
[image: Stephen Moore]
