Virginia Casinos and Online Casino Law

Virginia has commercial casinos, but it does not have legal online casinos. Real-money online casino games are not licensed in the state, and the 2026 legislative session ended without a law to change that. Online sports betting, the Virginia Lottery and advance-deposit horse wagering are legal; see our Virginia sports betting guide and the Virginia Lottery page.

Casinos open in Virginia

A 2020 law allowed casinos in a short list of cities, each subject to a local referendum. This is where they stand:

• Bristol: Hard Rock Casino Bristol opened a temporary casino in July 2022 and its permanent casino in November 2024.
• Portsmouth: Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened in January 2023.
• Danville: Caesars Virginia opened in December 2024.
• Norfolk: a temporary casino has been open since November 7, 2025, and a permanent resort from Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe is expected at the end of 2027.
• Petersburg: Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia opened a temporary casino on January 22, 2026, with a permanent casino planned for 2027.

Richmond was on the original list, but its voters turned a casino down in 2021 and again in 2023, and the license was moved to Petersburg. Opening dates and construction schedules change, so confirm hours and status with each casino before you travel. Casino players must be 21 or older.

Online casinos in Virginia

Virginia has not legalized online slots, table games or live-dealer games. Sites that take real-money casino bets from Virginia players are not licensed by the Virginia Lottery, which means the state does not regulate them and a dispute with one has no regulator to go to. Lawmakers can take the question up again in a later session, and we will update this page if the law changes.

Retail casinos in nearby states

Virginians near the state line can also reach casinos in Maryland and West Virginia:

• Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone, Maryland
• Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
• Hollywood Casino Perryville, Perryville, Maryland
• Live! Casino & Hotel, Hanover, Maryland
• Ocean Downs, Berlin, Maryland
• MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland
• The Casino Club at The Greenbrier, Greenbrier, West Virginia
• Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Charles Town, West Virginia
• Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, Nitro, West Virginia
• Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort, Chester, West Virginia
• Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, Wheeling, West Virginia

Wager safely, only with money you can afford to lose, and see the help line at the bottom of this page if play stops being fun.