Overview

From May 15, 2024 through May 31, 2024, the Lottery will be accepting applications for sports betting permits. In order to provide all potential applicants with sufficient time to file their applications, we will be conducting meetings from May 1, 2024 through May 14, 2024, to discuss product offerings and to identify license qualifiers. If interested in a meeting please email Gina Smith (gsmith@valottery.com) and Nate Warfield (nwarfield@valottery.com) stating your interest and attach a copies of your ownership and organizational charts. Failure to request a meeting during this timeframe will not prohibit you from applying for a permit but may limit your time to file as the Lottery will still need to determine qualifiers based on ownership and organization. Applications for permits will not be accepted after 11:59:59PM EST on May 31, 2024.

Anyone interested in applying for a license will need to designate an individual that will be responsible for uploading all of the required documentation into the online licensing system. This individual should serve in the role of a Compliance Officer or similar as they will be responsible for handling confidential sensitive information. Logon credentials will be provided to the designated individual after the Lottery determines the qualifiers.

All required fees are due at the time the application is submitted. Click here for further information regarding fees.

Resource Guides

Account Representative resources guide: This guide provides information for the individual responsible for coordinating the submission of all required applications. This individual should serve in the role of a Compliance Officer or similar as they will be required to handle confidential sensitive information. The resources guide provides step by step instruction on how to set up applicant user accounts for individuals within their company that meet the definition of principal, principal entity, or employee so that the required applications can be submitted . The resource guide also specifies the documentation that must be collected based on license type and uploaded into the licensing system. The resource guide also provides copies of the forms that the applicants need to have notarized for upload into the licensing system.

Supplier resource guide. This guide provides step-by step instructions on how to apply for a supplier license.

Vendor resource guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a vendor registration.

Principal applicant resource guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a principal license.

Principal entity applicant resource guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a principal entity license.

Employee applicant resource guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for an employee license. 

Sample Applications

Permit Holder Application

Supplier Application

Vendor Application

Principal Application

Principle Entity Application

Employee Application   

Sample applications are to be used by potential applicants for reference purposes only. Paper applications will NOT be accepted. In order for an application to be considered complete, all requested documentation will need to be submitted.

Definitions

“Sports betting permit holder” means a person who has been issued a permit by the Department to operate a sports betting platform.

“Sports betting supplier” or “Supplier” means a person who: (a) manages, administers, or controls wagers initiated, received or made on a sports betting platform; (b) manages, administers, or controls the games on which wagers are initiate, received, or made on a sports betting platform; or (c) maintains or operates the software or hardware of a sports betting platform, including geolocation services, customer integration, and customer account management.

“Vendor or sports betting vendor” means a person within the Commonwealth of Virginia who is engaged by, under contract to, or acting on behalf of a permit holder to provide sports betting-related goods or services that directly affects sports betting in Virginia and who does not meet the criteria for licensing as a principal or a supplier, such as a marketing affiliate or an equipment maintenance vendor.

“Principal” means an individual who, solely or together with the individual’s immediate family members, (i) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent or more of the pecuniary interest in an entity that is a permit holder, or (ii) has the power to vote or cause the vote of five percent or more of the voting securities or other ownership of such entity. “Principal includes an individual who is employed in a managerial capacity for a sports betting platform on behalf of a permit holder and for the purposes of this definition, “employed in a managerial capacity” means the Chief Executive Officer of the permit holder and, if applicable, its sports betting platform supplier, and any individual who has ultimate responsibility for the operation of the sports betting platform in Virginia.

“Principal entity” means an company who, (i) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent or more of the pecuniary interest in an entity that is a permit holder, or (ii) has the power to vote or cause the vote of five percent or more of the voting securities or other ownership of such entity.

“Sports betting employee” means an individual who does not meet the definition of a principal and works within the boarders of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a permit holder, sports betting supplier, or vendor on non-management support services such as software or hardware maintenance, provision of products, services, information or assets, directly or indirectly, to the permit holder.

Fee information

Permit Holder Application – No fee due at time of submission; however, a fee of $250,000 is due prior to the award of a permit.

Principal Application - $50,000 non-refundable fee per principal/principal entity. Further fees may be required.

Principal Entity Application – no fee required.

Supplier Application for a sports betting platform- $125,000 of which $115,000 is refundable if the cost of the background investigation does not exceed $115,000. Additional fees will be required if the cost exceeds $115,000.

Supplier Application for something other than a sports betting platform - $50,000 of which $5,000 is refundable if the cost of the background investigation does not exceed $45,000. Additional fees will be required if the cost exceeds $45,000.

Employee Application fee - $500

Vendor Application fee - $500

All fees shall be remitted as follows:

Wire Payment To:

Virginia Lottery Account Number: 435029087446

Name of the Account: Gaming License Fees

Transit Routing Number: 026009593

ACH Instructions:

Virginia Lottery Account Number: 435029087446

Name of the Account: Gaming License Fees

Transit Routing Number: 051000017

Investigations will not begin until the required fees are remitted.

Renewal Overview

The Virginia Lottery is beginning the application renewal process for sports betting permit holders, suppliers, vendors, principals, and employees. The Licensing Department will be reaching out to you well in advance of your license expiration to advise you of the steps that you need to take to ensure the timely processing of your renewal application. All renewal applications are required to be submitted at least 60 days in advance of your license’s expiration date. Failure to submit a completed application to the Lottery by the required date will result in the termination of your license. If your license is terminated, you will not be able to provide sports betting services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

All required fees are due at the time the application is submitted. Click here for further information regarding fees.

Resource Guides

Account Representative Renewal User Guide: This guide provides information on creating the required renewal applications in Virginia Lottery’s online system for operator permit holders, supplier entities, and individuals within their company that meet the definition of principal or employee. This guide supplements the Account Representative resources guide: which should also be referenced for guidance on completing all of the requirements of the application submission process. The Virginia Lottery will require updated information on the company’s ownership structure and officers to identify qualifiers prior to providing credentials to access the application portal.

Vendor resource guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a vendor registration renewal.

Sample Applications

Permit Holder Renewal Application

Supplier Renewal Application

Vendor Renewal Application

Principal Renewal Application

Principle Entity Renewal Application

Employee Renewal Application

Sample applications are to be used by potential applicants for reference purposes only. Paper applications will NOT be accepted. In order for an application to be considered complete, all requested documentation will need to be submitted. 

Renewal Fee information

Renewal Permit Application - $200,000 non-refundable wire transfer fee due at least 60 days in advance of expiration.

Principal - $50,035.72 nonrefundable wire transfer fee due at least 60 days in advance of expiration.

Supplier - $50,000 nonrefundable wire transfer fee due at least 60 days in advance of expiration.

Vendor - $500 nonrefundable wire transfer fee due at least 60 days in advance of expiration.

Employee - $500 nonrefundable wire transfer fee due at least 60 days in advance of expiration.

All fees shall be remitted as follows:

Wire Payment To:

Virginia Lottery Account Number: 435029087446

Name of the Account: Gaming License Fees

Transit Routing Number: 026009593 

Investigations will not begin until the required fees are remitted.

Approved Vendors

• Click here for Approved Sports Betting Vendors.

Testing/Certification Labs Approved

• Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
• Bulletproof Solutions, INC.
• BMM Testlabs
• Cobalt
• eCorga
• NCC Group
• AccessIT Group, Inc

Testing and certification labs interested in being approved by the Virginia Lottery to be utilized by sports betting operators should email a letter of request to:

Gina Smith

Deputy Executive Director of Gaming Compliance

gsmith@valottery.com

The letter should contain information on the company submitting the request to include experience in certifying sports betting systems as well as any other experience the company believes is relevant to assist the Lottery in its approval process.

Settlement Agreements

• Docket No. 2021-05-01
• Docket No 2021-08-01
• Docket No 2023-07-01
• Docket No 2023-08-01
• Docket No 2023-08-02
• Docket No. 2023-09-01
• Docket No. 2023-09-02
• Docket No. 2023-09-04
• Docket No. 2023-09-05
• Docket No. 2023-09-07
• Docket No. 2023-11-01
• Docket No. 2023-12-01
• Docket No. 2023-12-02
• Docket No. 2024-02-02
• Docket No. 2024-02-01
• Docket No. 2024-03-01
• Docket No. 2024.04.01

Gaming Laws

• Sports Betting

Gaming Regulations

Sports Betting:

• Self-Exclusion Program
• Sports Betting
• Consumer Protection Program
•  Point of Contact

Authorized Sports Events, Leagues, and Bet Types

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to sports wagering operators on approved leagues and events as well as acceptable wager types. This directive is authorized by 11 VAC 70-170, is subject to change, and may be updated from time to time. It is the policy of the Department that sports wagering may only occur on events and leagues which have integrity policies.

Unless specifically prohibited below, sport wagering operators may offer wagers (pre and/or in-game & futures/outrights) or proposition bets (which means wagers on a single specific action, statistic, occurrence, or non-occurrence to be determined during a sporting event and includes any such action that does not directly affect the final outcome of the sporting event to which it relates) for all leagues and events where the results are determined on the field of play and can be confirmed by a box score or statistical analysis.

Examples of approved wagers and bet types include:

• Single game bets
• Moneyline
• Teaser bets
• Parlays
• Over-Under
• Pools
• Exchange Wagering
• In-Game Wagering
• In-Play Bets
• Proposition Bets
• Straight Bets

Prohibited Events/Wagers include:

• Wagers on youth sports, proposition bets on college sports and bets on Virginia college sports. For youth sports and Virginia college sports, prohibited wagers are limited to the single game or match in which a youth sports or a Virginia college sports team is a participant.
• Proposition wagers on any type of possible injury, unsportsmanlike conduct or any other officiating call. Examples of impermissible player propositions include but are not limited to wagers that are:
  • Injury related, such as will a player suffer an injury, how many games will an injured player miss.
  • Officiating calls, such as when will the first penalty flag be thrown, when will the first foul be called, what will be the game’s first penalty.
• Wagering on the outcome of subjective trophy awards such as MLB Cy Young, MVP, Heisman Trophy, etc.
• Wagers on drafts (e.g, MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, WNBA, etc.).

Procedure for Approval of New Events/Wagers

Sports betting operators must submit catalogues to the Department for review and approval prior to launching its sports betting operations.  Initial catalogs may be submitted to SBEVENTS@valottery.com. 

A sports betting operator shall not accept any wager on a sports event or type of wager or specific wager unless it has been approved by the Department and published in this directive.  A sport betting operator may request approval of additional events and wagers that are not included in this directive or in the initial catalog that was approved by the Department by submitting a request to SBEVENTS@valottery.com at least 72 hours prior to the new offering.  This request must include, at a minimum, (1) the name of the sports governing body in charge of administering the event or the wager and (2) a description of the event and/or wager that the operator intends to offer.  Operators should submit updated house rules as necessary for each new approval. 

Operators must receive Department approval prior to offering the new event or wager.

Current Approved Leagues/Events

as of March 22, 2024 (changes in green)

Press Releases

1. Virginia Lottery releases February sports wagering activity report (4/1/2024)
2. Virginia Lottery releases January sports wagering activity report (3/1/2024)
3. Virginia Lottery releases December sports wagering activity report (2/1/2024)
4. Virginia Lottery releases November sports wagering activity report (12/29/2023)
5. Virginia Lottery releases October sports wagering activity report (12/1/2023)
6. Virginia Lottery releases September sports wagering activity report (11/1/2023)
7. Virginia Lottery releases August sports wagering activity report (9/29/2023)
8. Virginia Lottery releases July sports wagering activity report (9/1/2023)
9. Virginia Lottery releases June sports wagering activity report (8/1/2023)
10. Virginia Lottery releases May sports wagering activity report (6/30/2023)
11. Virginia Lottery releases April sports wagering activity report (6/1/2023)
12. Virginia Lottery releases March sports wagering activity report (5/1/2023)
13. Virginia Lottery releases February sports wagering activity report (3/31/2023)
14. Virginia Lottery releases January sports wagering activity report (3/1/2023)
15. Virginia Lottery releases December sports wagering activity report (2/1/2023)
16. Virginia Lottery releases November sports wagering activity report (12/30/2022)
17. Virginia Lottery releases October sports wagering activity report (12/1/2022)
18. Virginia Lottery releases September sports wagering activity report (9/30/2022)
19. Virginia Lottery releases August sports wagering activity report (9/30/2022)
20. Virginia Lottery releases July sports wagering activity report (9/1/2022)
21. Virginia Lottery releases June sports wagering activity report (8/1/2022)
22. Virginia Lottery releases May sports wagering activity report (7/1/2022)
23. Virginia Lottery releases April sports wagering activity report -- Total handle increased 69% from prior year (6/1/2022)
24. Virginia Lottery releases March sports wagering activity report (5/2/2022)
25. Virginia Lottery releases February sports wagering activity report (4/1/2022)
26. Virginia Lottery releases January sports wagering activity report (3/1/2022)
27. Virginia Lottery releases December sports wagering activity report (2/1/2022)
28. Virginia Lottery releases November sports wagering activity report (12/30/2021)
29. Virginia Lottery releases October sports wagering activity report (12/2/2021)
30. Virginia Lottery releases September sports wagering activity report (11/1/2021)
31. Virginia Lottery releases August sports wagering activity report (10/1/2021)
32. Virginia Lottery releases July sports wagering activity report (9/1/2021)
33. Virginia Lottery releases June sports wagering activity report (7/30/2021)
34. Virginia Lottery releases May sports wagering activity report (7/1/2021)
35. Virginia Lottery releases April sports wagering activity report (5/28/2021)
36. Virginia Lottery releases March sports wagering activity report (4/30/2021)
37. Virginia Lottery releases February sports wagering activity report (4/1/2021)
38. Virginia Lottery releases first monthly sports wagering activity report (3/1/2021)
39. Virginia Lottery reviewing 25 applications for Sports Betting Permits (11/15/2020)
40. Virginia Lottery Board approves sports betting regulations (9/15/2020)
41. Virginia Lottery Releases Full Draft Regulations for Sports Betting (8/10/2020)