Virginia

Last updated: 3/13/2026

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Poker laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for specific legal questions about hosting poker games.

Home game poker is legal with conditions in Virginia under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-334, which permits social gambling where no person operates a gambling business. The state has modernized its gaming laws significantly, authorizing five commercial casinos in 2020; Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth are operating, Petersburg replaced Richmond as the fifth host city after two failed Richmond referendums, and Norfolk remains under development.

Home Games

Generally Legal

Social gambling is legal in Virginia under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-334. Home poker games are permitted as long as no person operates a gambling business.

Conditions

No person may receive compensation for operating or hosting the game
Game must be social in nature
No rake or house cut
Game must not be conducted as a business

Age: 18+

Charitable Gaming

Legal - Licensed & Regulated

Charitable gaming is permit-based and regulated at the state level; qualifying organizations may hold casino nights and poker events with a permit. Note: oversight has been the subject of reorganization proposals (a 2022 JLARC study recommended moving charitable gaming regulation to the Virginia Lottery), so the responsible agency should be re-verified before this entry is published.

License: Required

Commercial Poker

Legal - Licensed & Regulated

Virginia authorized five commercial casinos in 2020, each contingent on a local referendum. Bristol (Hard Rock), Danville (Caesars Virginia), and Portsmouth (Rivers) are operating, with Bristol and Danville having transitioned from temporary to permanent resorts. Richmond voters rejected casino referendums in 2021 and 2023, and the fifth license moved to Petersburg, where voters approved a Live! Casino project in November 2024 and a temporary casino was scheduled to open in January 2026. The Norfolk project broke ground after repeated delays and has been projected to open around 2027.

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