Virginians wagered $510M on sports in August

Virginians bet about $510.2 million on sports in August, winning about $447.3 million, according to Virginia Lottery data released Wednesday. That’s about 22% more than they wagered in August 2024.

About $506.3 million of August’s gross sports gaming revenues came from mobile operators, with the remaining roughly $3.9 million coming from casino retail activity. Virginia currently has three casinos: the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth and Caesars Virginia in Danville. In August, the state’s casinos reported a total of $84.8 million in adjusted gaming revenues.

Casino development continues in the commonwealth. Construction on the $750 million Norfolk casino began in February. The Interim Gaming Hall is expected to open in November in Norfolk. In Petersburg, the $1.4 billion Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia held a groundbreaking in March. Rivers Casino Portsmouth and Rush Street Gaming have plans to begin building a $65 million hotel in Portsmouth this summer. S.B. Ballard Construction Co. was announced as the hotel’s general contractor in July.

The licensed operators included in August’s sports revenue reporting were:

• Betfair Interactive US (FanDuel) in partnership with the Washington Commanders
• Crown Virginia Gaming (Draft Kings)
• BetMGM
• Rivers Portsmouth Gaming (Rivers Casino Portsmouth)
• Caesars Virginia
• Bally’s Interactive
• Penn Sports Interactive
• Colonial Downs Group
• HR Bristol
• Hillside (Virginia)
• DC Sports Facilities Entertainment
• Betr VA
• PlayLive Virginia
• Sporttrade Virginia

Virginia places a 15% tax on sports betting activity based on each permit holder’s adjusted gross revenue (total wagers minus total winnings and other authorized deductions). With 10 operators reporting net positive AGR for August, state taxes for the month totaled nearly $8.7 million.

Of that, 97.5% — about $8.46 million — will be deposited in the state’s general fund. The remaining approximately $216,955 will go to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund Allocation, which the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services administers.