Virginians bet $182 million on sports in August

Virginians bet $182 million in August, a 13% increase from July, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Lottery.

Virginian sports bettors won $171 million in August. Virginia sports betting wagers total more than $1.48 billion since the state legalized sports betting in mid-January.

In July, the state reaped about $161.9 million in gross revenue from sports betting, which was a 31% dip from June revenues. The dip was consistent with what occurred in other areas in the U.S., according to the Virginia Lottery, and a seasonal slump is normal, according to a PlayVirginia analysis.

The eight licensed operators included in August’s reporting were Betfair Interactive US LLC (FanDuel) in partnership with the Washington Football Team; Crown Virginia Gaming LLC (Draft Kings); BetMGM LLC; Rivers Portsmouth Gaming LLC (Rivers Casino Portsmouth); Caesars Virginia LLC (William Hill); WSI US LLC (Wynn); Unibet Interactive Inc.; and newcomer Penn Sports Interactive LLC.

The state placed a 15% tax on sports betting activity based on each permit holder’s adjusted gross revenue. With four operators reporting net positive adjusted gross revenue, the monthly taxes for August total $1.38 million.