Virginians bet almost $639M on sports in November

Virginians bet $638.8 million on sports in November 2023, up 23.1% from November 2022, according to data the Virginia Lottery released on Dec. 29, 2023.

November’s handle is an 11.8% increase from October 2023, when Virginians bet $571 million on sports. Virginia betters won $595.8 million in November and about $507 million in October.

About $632 million of November’s sports gaming revenues came from mobile operators, and the remaining more than $6.59 million came from casino retail activity. Virginia’s current casinos are the temporary Bristol Casino: The Future Home of Hard Rock, the permanent Rivers Casino Portsmouth and the temporary Caesars Virginia casino in Danville. Virginia’s gaming revenues from casinos in November totaled $51.2 million, according to the Virginia Lottery.

The licensed operators included in November’s 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,
• WSI US,
• Twin River Management Group,
• Penn Sports Interactive,
• Unibet Interactive,
• Colonial Downs Group,
• Digital Gaming Corporation VA,
• VHL VA,
• HR Bristol,
• Hillside (Virginia),
• DC Sports Facilities Entertainment,
• Betr VA,
• and PlayLive Virginia.

Virginia places a 15% tax on sports betting activity based on each permit holder’s adjusted gross revenue. With 10 operators reporting net positive AGR for November, the month’s taxes totaled $5.48 million, of which 97.5% (about $5.3 million) will be deposited in the state’s general fund. The remainder, about $137,000, will be deposited in the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, which the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services administers.