RICHMOND, Va. — Mobile sports betting is up and running in Virginia, just in time for the Super Bowl.
Ed Lane has learned a lot about sports betting, and like many Virginians, he is betting on the Super Bowl for the first time in the Commonwealth.
“It’s exciting to have sports betting legal in Virginia,” Lane said.
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In April, the General Assembly approved a commercial gaming bill. That bill legalized online sports betting and casino gaming operators in select cities across the state, including Danville.
Caesars Entertainment is set to open in the River City in 2023.
There are some rules if you choose to bet. You must be 21 years or older, physically be in the state of Virginia and you can’t bet on college teams.
“So far the launch has been incredible,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer for BetMGM.
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BetMGM is one of the five sportsbooks that the Virginia Lottery Board licensed and launched in late January. With betting now legalized, the state will be taking home around 15 percent of the money generated through taxes.
“With legalized sports betting, what comes into play is more and more betting opportunities. So, we have a thousand different individual bets that you can place on the Super Bowl,” Provost said.
Draft Kings is another sportsbook licensed here.
Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports Operations for Draft Kings, says the company has a ton of offerings on bets for the Super Bowl.
“Everything from the, you know, National Anthem to the last play of the game to everything in between that happens,” Avello said.
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As far as which team is coming out on top tonight, Avello said users have made their bets clear.
Lane also added some tips for gambling online.
“Have fun. Don’t let it cloud your experience, but just do it in context and if you’re not comfortable there’s no shame in not doing it and if you’re ready just have fun and be responsible with it,” Lane said.
