NFL Betting at Virginia Sportsbooks

How to bet on the NFL in Virginia

Here are the best online sportsbooks currently available on the market:

Best NFL betting apps

1. DraftKings Sportsbook

The same things that made DraftKings a daily fantasy sports leader carry over to its sports betting app. DraftKings offers up a slick platform with everything you need to hit the ground running with NFL betting. Betting live on NFL games with DK’s FlashBet is a must.

2. FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel helped make daily fantasy sports a household name, and the company is now pushing to bring sports betting to the masses. The user-friendly app interface is among the most visually appealing in the industry and makes betting on the NFL — pre-game or live — super simple.

3. BetMGM Sportsbook

The iconic MGM brand has gone all-in with sports betting, and while the navigation is a little less slick, you’ll find all of the markets and bet types you need for the NFL. You’ll also find very good odds to take advantage of plus lots of ongoing promo offers.

4. BetRivers Sportsbook

An outstanding rewards program is something that bettors of all shapes and sizes can appreciate. BetRivers offers that alongside a stellar platform of NFL betting markets.

5. Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars also has one of the top programs in the industry. The simple interface allows you to get down to business with NFL betting quickly and easily.

You can access every bet available at any of these online sportsbooks via the downloadable app. Once you click through on our links to create an account, you’ll be eligible for all our bonus offers and be up and running on both formats quickly.

How to bet on NFL games

For each NFL game, you’ll have several different ways to bet. The major NFL bet types are all easily found under the NFL tab in your online sportsbook or sportsbook app.

Moneyline bets

The moneyline bet is simple and straightforward. You’re simply tasked with picking the winner. The favorite will have negative odds; odds are positive for underdogs. The closer the range, the tighter the matchup. The opposite is true for big spans in the numbers.

• Carolina Panthers +150
• Tennessee Titans -130

Point spread

Oddsmakers install a point spread on each game which is their estimated margin of victory. Bettors account for this by taking the favorite minus the points or going with the underdog plus the number. To cover, the final margin has to be greater than the spread for favorites, and less than the spread for underdogs.

• Atlanta Falcons +2.5 (-110)
• Indianapolis Colts -2.5 (-110)

Totals

A totals or over/under bet has to do with the total combined points that will be scored in the game. Sportsbooks set an estimated number, and bettors pick where they think the number will land at the end of the game – either Over/Under the estimate.

• Over 50.5 (-110)
• Under 50.5 (-110)

Prop betting

There are other bets offered at legal online sportsbooks. If you click through on the NFL game listings in each book, you’ll find a wide range of prop bets in numerous categories.

Props are basically like placing a side bet on something that may or may not happen during the game. There will be bets offered on things like specific player milestones (receiving yards gained, rushing yards gained, etc.) or a game scenario that might come up.

• How many combined yards will Christian McCaffrey have: Over/Under 119.5?
• Will the Eagles score a defensive or special teams TD: Yes/No?
• Which side will have more passing yards in the game: Raiders or Chargers?

How does NFL live betting work?

The betting doesn’t stop once the game kicks off. That’s thanks to live betting, a fast-growing part of the sports betting landscape. Live betting allows you to place bets in real-time based on what’s happening on the field.

The odds and markets move fast, but a good sportsbook app makes it simple to stay on top of things. Live betting functions similar to the prop market in terms of offerings, but you’ll also find new opportunities to bet on the outcome with updated odds. A few examples of betting on live odds:

• Which side will have more rushing yards by halftime: Cowboys or Cardinals?
• Will Dustin Hopkins make this field goal: Yes/No?
• Who will win the game: Ravens or Chiefs?

Moneylines, spreads, and totals can also be bet on for the game but with shifting odds that reflect how the game is taking shape on the field.

Bet on the Super Bowl in Virginia

All of the above bets plus an epic slate of on-field and off field props will be available at every major sportsbook when the Super Bowl comes around.

Not only will the props cover virtually everything you can imagine on-field from a player perspective (First TD scored, rushing yards in first half, total TD receptions, etc) there’s a really fun selection of unconventional props including:

• Doink Special (kick to hit the uprights)
• Double Doink Special (kick to hit upright twice)
• Fat Man TD (Lineman scores TD)

Other popular bets include winner of the coin toss, Super Bowl MVP and parlay bets that stack up a couple of specific occurrences (Mahomes Scores TD + Chiefs win, etc).

In short: It’s a complete blast; read more about it on our dedicated page here:

• Super Bowl Betting in Virginia

NFL futures odds

NFL futures odds keep the betting action going throughout the year. Futures are bets you can place on an outcome that will happen at a later date. Odds are listed for all of the available choices within any one category (ie. player or team) and the odds will move based on betting action.

Some of the biggest futures odds markets stay very active all year while others will see spikes in interest at certain times. Futures make for a great way to stay on top of how the betting public sees the NFL season as a whole playing out.

NFL futures odds you can expect to find at any VA online sportsbook include:

• Odds on Super Bowl winner, Conference winner, Division winner.
• Team regular-season win totals.
• Individual accomplishments: Passing yards leader and league leader in rushing TDs are allowed bets because they are directly tied to stats. Awards like MVP or Rookie of the Year are not allowed bets in Virginia because they are based on opinion.

NFL schedule explained

From preseason games in August through the Super Bowl in early February, there’s live pigskin action every week. Here’s how the NFL schedule breaks down.

Preseason

The preseason typically kicks off with the annual Hall of Fame game, which is a standalone contest. Afterward, it’s three weeks of games with all teams in action. Books provide odds for preseason games, but betting on them can be tricky due to the unpredictable nature and questions about playing time.

Regular season

The regular season spans 18 weeks. Each team plays 17 games and gets one week off as a bye. The schedule is structured like this: Each squad will have eight home and eight road games, plus one inter-conference matchup between teams that finished in the same position in their division during the previous season. NFL games are played on Sundays, Monday nights, Thursday nights and some Saturday nights.

Postseason

The four division winners in each conference make the playoffs, as do three Wild Card teams from each side. The top overall side in each conference receives a bye, while the others play in the opening round with winners advancing and so on through the tournament. The ultimate winner of each conference makes it to the Super Bowl.

Betting action is massive throughout the regular season and takes off even further once the postseason and Super Bowl roll around. Sportsbooks do a solid job of setting competitive NFL betting odds and lines for each game — but remember to shop around to find the best prices.

How to watch or stream NFL games in VA

NFL games are appointment viewing for many, so finding them on TV or via streaming options isn’t too challenging. The actual place to watch will vary depending on which part of the slate is on tap.

Thursday Night Football

TNF games can be found exclusively on Amazon Prime starting in Week 2.

Sunday Afternoon

The main part of the slate belongs to CBS and FOX. CBS has the AFC package for the most part, while FOX handles most NFC games. The networks cross-flex some conference games, so there are exceptions.

NFL RedZone provides wraparound coverage of all the games, while NFL Sunday Ticket carries all out-of-market contests. Sunday Ticket moved from DirecTV to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels starting in 2024. RedZone and Sunday Ticket both require a subscription.

Sunday Night Football

As the week winds down, fans can tune into NBC to catch SNF, which is generally one of the big marquee games of the week.

Monday Night Football

The final game of the week can be found on ESPN, with the Peyton & Eli simulcast on ESPN2. MNF is a tradition that traces its roots back to 1970.

Each of the aforementioned networks can be found as part of cable, satellite, and streaming packages. For streaming purposes, you can also visit the website or app of the broadcaster for options, but you’ll have to log in with provider credentials to access those features. Yahoo also provides streams of primetime and local games.

For games that are on the three broadcast networks, they can be picked up via local affiliates.

• CBS affiliates
  • WUSA – Washington D.C.
  • WCAV – Charlottesville
  • WSVF/WGSV – Harrisonburg
  • WTKR – Norfolk
  • WTVR – Richmond
  • WDBJ – Roanoke

• FOX affiliates
  • WTTG – Washington D.C.
  • WCAV – Charlottesville
  • WSVF – Harrisonburg
  • WWCW – Lynchburg
  • WRLH – Richmond
  • WFXR – Roanoke
  • WVBT – Virginia Beach

• NBC affiliates
  • WRC – Washington D.C.
  • WCYB – Bristol
  • WVIR – Charlottesville
  • WSVW – Harrisonburg
  • WAVY – Portsmouth
  • WWBT – Richmond
  • WSLS – Roanoke

Which NFL team is most popular in Virginia?

No NFL team makes its home here in VA, but many fans have latched on to one that’s not too far away. The Washington Commanders is the squad of choice for many residents.

The team’s biggest rivalry games come against fellow NFC East squads: The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles.

The DC football team is well-removed from its glory days of winning three Super Bowls in the 1980s under head coach Joe Gibbs, but optimism is high that Ron Rivera will be the right man for the job. His team narrowly missed the playoffs in the 2024 season.

• Home Stadium: FedEx Field, 1600 FedEx Way, Landover, MD 20784
• Capacity: 82,000
• Opened: September 14, 1997

Best NFL players from Virginia

More than 200 players who were born here in VA have gone on to play in the NFL. That makes for an interesting debate on who is the best of the best, but there’s no arguing that these five stars made a serious mark on the game.

• DB Ronde Barber: Born in Roanoke, Barber holds the mark for most NFL games played by a VA-born player at 241.
• LB James Farrior: A native of Ettrick, Farrior terrorized opponents during stints with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.
• TE Ben Watson: The Norfolk-born Watson is not only one of the finest players to come out of VA, but also one of the most respected across the NFL.
• RB Tiki Barber: Ronde’s brother, Tiki Barber was electrifying with the football in his hands during his time with the New York Giants.
• QB Michael Vick: The best player to ever come out of Newport News had his share of controversy during his career, but there’s simply no denying Vick’s talent.

Can you bet on the NFL in Virginia?

Yes. Sports betting was officially legalized in Virginia in April 2020, and the official rollout took place on Jan. 21, 2021.

You’re now able to place your NFL bets both online or via a mobile app on your iPhone or Android. There’s no in-state residency requirement, but you must be physically located within state lines to make a real-money NFL bet at an online VA sportsbook.

You can also create and register your account from your home in DC (or any neighboring state) and simply cross the border into Virginia to make your bet. You can then ultimately cash out your winnings from your home state as well.

Betting in Virginia is permitted on all of the major sports, including NFL. College sports teams betting is prohibited in-state, including prop betting, but you’ll be able to place your bets on each of the 32 NFL teams in a variety of different ways without issue.