Sports Betting Activated on DraftKings Platform in Virginia
Sports Betting Goes Live in Virginia 🏈💰
Sunday morning, DraftKings and BetMGM officially launched their online sports betting platforms in Virginia, beating the drums just in time for Super Bowl LV. The Virginia Lottery's website confirmed the news, with DraftKings already live ahead of the NFL's conference championship games.
FanDuel, having partnered with the Washington Football Team, kicked off the race as Virginia's initial live platform on Thursday. But DraftKings swiftly joined the fray, ready to offer Virginia residents a rich selection of betting options, as co-founder Jason Robins excitedly stated, "We hope to be the sportsbook of choice for Virginians who enjoy having skin in the game."
This marks the 12th state for DraftKings offering live, legal mobile sports betting and the 10th for BetMGM. The duo also made their debut in Michigan just days prior. Virginia has nearly a dozen more permits to award, but as of now, none have been granted to Caesars/William Hill, Hard Rock, or Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers).
Super Betting Sunday
DraftKings wasted no time in offering enticing specials for the Virginia launch, like "double your money" for touchdowns during the conference title games and odds boosts for local teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Green Bay Packers at 3:05 PM ET, and the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs take on the Buffalo Bills to decide the AFC representative at 6:40 PM ET.
The Lottery also added Kambi as an approved vendor on Sunday morning, further increasing the thrill in Virginia's digital stadium.
The Road to More States
Virginia regulators met the aggressive timeline, legalizing sports betting on April 22, 2020, and approving rules by Sept. 15. Operators like PointsBet and WynnBet have applied for licenses and are hoping to join the action. The lottery's absence of "substantial and preferred consideration" for NASCAR tracks like Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway may pose a challenge for WynnBet.
Other states, such as Maryland, Louisiana, and South Dakota, legalized sports betting in 2020. However, it remains unclear whether these states will be able to launch their sportsbooks in 2021, as all require significant legislative action and rule development. Washington State, which legalized retail sports betting in March 2020, aims to release proposed rules this spring.
As the frenzy of online sports wagering ignites red, white, and blue states, Virginia takes the helm and sets the pace for a thrilling ride! 🤘🏽🎢🪕
- DraftKings and BetMGM, following the launch of their sports betting platforms in Virginia, are now offering a multitude of betting options for residents, aiming to become the go-to sportsbook for those who enjoy sports betting.
- In addition to DraftKings and BetMGM, operators like FanDuel, PointsBet, and WynnBet have applied for licenses in Virginia, hoping to join the growing market of online sports betting.
- The financial landscape of sports betting is expanding beyond Virginia, as states like Maryland, Louisiana, and South Dakota have legalized sports betting in 2020, with Washington State aiming to follow suit in the near future.
