Virginia Sports Bettors Wager Over $430M in April, Boosting State Funds

Published: Jul 7, 2025, 7:00 AM
3 min read
Updated: Jul 7, 2025, 7:00 AM

April Revenue Insights

RICHMOND, Va. - July 7, 2025
It’s been just over four years since Virginians placed their first legal sports bets. What began with seven operators and a modest monthly handle of $236 million has since grown into a stable and mature market, quietly delivering consistent revenue to the Commonwealth.

In April 2025, Virginia's licensed sportsbooks handled $430 million in total wagers, with an average hold rate of around 8.9%, yielding roughly $38.3 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR). From that, the state collected over $5.7 million in taxes, continuing its dual mission: funding public services and protecting problem gamblers.

Virginia’s first full April of legal sports betting came just months after the market launched on January 21, 2021. At the time, only seven operators were active, and March Madness had caused a spike in wagers that April could not sustain.

MetricApril 2021
April 2021 Handle$236.4M
Hold%8.22%
Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)$11.38M
State Tax Collected $1.65M

Back then, just four sportsbooks even reported positive AGR, and tax revenue barely broke $1.6 million. Today, with over a dozen operators in the market and a streamlined tax structure, April 2025 shows how far the state has come.

Compare All U.S. States Sports Betting Revenue

Active Sportsbooks in Virginia

Virginia now hosts one of the most competitive online betting ecosystems in the U.S., featuring:

  1. Bally Bet
  2. Bet365
  3. betMGM
  4. Betr
  5. BetRivers
  6. Caesars Sportsbook
  7. DraftKings
  8. ESPN BET
  9. Fanatics Sportsbook
  10. FanDuel
  11. Hard Rock

Where the Tax Dollars Go

Virginia imposes a 15% tax on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), defined as total wagers minus winnings and certain deductions. By statute:

  • 97.5% of tax revenue goes to the General Fund, helping support K-12 education, healthcare, and state infrastructure.
  • 2.5% is reserved for the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, administered by the Department of Behavioral Health.

In April 2021, this meant just $41,303 was allocated for problem gambling programs. In April 2025, that number exceeded $140,000, reflecting the growth of the industry and Virginia’s commitment to responsibility.

Looking Forward

What once felt like an experiment in early 2021 is now a pillar of Virginia’s public funding strategy. With year-over-year growth in both handle and tax revenue, the state’s decision to allow regulated betting has paid off; without the boom-and-bust cycles seen elsewhere.

As April 2025 shows, Virginia is proving that with tight oversight, smart policy, and consistent reinvestment, sports betting can be more than just a game. It can be a system that works.

<p><strong>Sol Fayerman-Hansen</strong> is Editor-in-Chief at RG.org with 20+ years of experience in sports journalism, gambling regulation, and tech. His work has appeared in <i>Forbes</i>, <i>ESPN</i>, and <i>NFL.com</i>, covering U.S. and Canadian gambling laws, major sports events, and wagering trends. Since 2023, Sol has led RG.org’s global editorial efforts, focusing on transparency, data accuracy, and regulatory insight. He works closely with researchers and legal experts to uphold E-E-A-T and Trust Project standards.</p><p>📍 Israel/Canada 🌐 English, Hebrew 🎯 Gambling law, responsible gaming, tech in betting</p>
Interests:
NFL
CFL
NBA
MLB
NHL
ATP
UEFA
NCAA Baseball
PGA
Wimbledon
UFC

Industry News Experts

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.