The Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet has become the latest operator to secure approval for sports betting in the state of Virginia.
This comes after PointsBet was one of nine sportsbook operators to be awarded a mobile sports betting license in the state of New York, earlier this month.
PointsBet enters Virginia
According to the Virginia Lottery’s approval page, which was updated on Monday, PointsBet has been awarded a temporary supplier license. PointsBet won one of the five remaining sports betting licenses in the state.
PointsBet secured access into the state via an exclusive partnership agreement with Colonial Downs Group, LLC.
In its announcement, PointsBet revealed that since it is an exclusive betting partner of NBC Sports, the bookmaker will use NBC Sports’ television and digital assets to promote its brand and wagering services in Virginia.
As part of the agreement, NBC Sports provides PointsBet with year-round, multi-platform media and marketing opportunities across its portfolio of events, including exclusive multiplatform gameday integrations across NBC Sports Washington, regional broadcast home to the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals
Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO said: “Being awarded the opportunity to offer PointsBet’s market-leading speed and ease of use, unrivaled slate of betting options, and overall in-play excellence to the people of Virginia is a great achievement and responsibility.
“Alongside Colonial Downs, PointsBet is proud to partner with the Lottery in Virginia for our first lottery-regulated market license award. We couldn’t be more thrilled to further expand our exclusive relationship with NBC Sports – a staple to sports lovers in Virginia – and ultimately provide the great people in the state with the sportsbook they’ve been waiting for.”
Colonial Downs Group Chief Operating Officer Aaron Gomes added: “Colonial Downs Group is proud to partner with PointsBet, a premier sports betting platform and one of the most successful operators in the nation.
“We are pleased to help bring this gaming option, with an excellent reputation and track record in customer service and unique points of difference such as their ‘PointsBetting’ platform, to our loyal customers and other gamers in Virginia.”
While PointsBet has received approval in Virginia, it is not clear when the brand will launch its online sportsbook.
More operators coming to Virginia
During a meeting held towards the end of October, the Virginia Lottery revealed there could be six additional sportsbooks launching in Virginia by the end of the first quarter.
Bally Bet was expected to be the first of these operators, with the Lottery’s Deputy Director of Gaming Compliance Gina Smith predicting a mid-November launch. However, Bally Bet has yet to go live in the state.
The Bally Bet sportsbook was one of three operators approved back in March, however, the brand decided it would delay rollouts in additional states until it had completed its acquisition of the UK-based Gamesys Group.
Although Bally’s has completed the acquisition, it has yet to provide an update on the rest of its US launches.
There are another four winners from the applications submitted back in May, however, the names of the applicants have not been made public. Some of those could launch this year, but a 2022 launch looks more likely.
Smith explained: “We are currently working with the five operators that we are going to move forward and we expect to award some type of permits in the upcoming months. The operators, some of them want to go live prior to the end of the year, some of them are in the early first quarter of next year.”
Sports betting in Virginia
Sports betting in Virginia became legal in April 2020, when the state legislature approved two sports betting bills, authorizing online sports betting. Under state law, up to 12 sports betting licenses are up for grabs.
Virginia’s betting market went live in January 2021 with the launch of FanDuel through a partnership with the Washington Football Team.
DraftKings, BetMGM, and BetRivers also launched their online sports betting products in the state in January.
There are now a total of nine operators currently live in the state which includes DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, FanDuel, Caers WynnBet, Unibet, Golden Nugget, and Barstool.