The most obvious potential reward of sports betting is the financial one. The chance of winning money will always be attractive. However, money is not the ONLY reward that sports betting has to offer. It can be entertaining and a lot of fun, and it can provide you with a deep sense of satisfaction too. USA players don't have it as easy as those in countries like the UK where online gambling is legal across the board. Because of the UIGEA and American banking laws, players from the USA have a tough time making deposits into online gambling sites.

• Is Online Gambling Legal
• Legal Gambling Sites
• Legal Gambling States

There are millions of people all over the world who regularly
enjoy gambling in its various forms. There are even more people
who enjoy gambling on a less frequent basis, perhaps just
visiting casinos every now and then or placing the occasional
wager on a big sporting event or a major horse race.

On the other hand, there are also a number of people who
think gambling is a complete waste of time and money. That’s
fine, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion and gambling
isn’t necessarily for everyone. If someone doesn’t want to
gamble, then they shouldn’t be encouraged otherwise.

In addition to the people that enjoy gambling and the people
that have no interest in it whatsoever, there are almost
certainly people that are intrigued by the idea but not really
sure whether it’s something they should try. If that sounds like
you, this is an article you should find useful.

We can’t actually provide a definitive answer to the question
of whether or not gambling is really worth it. We probably
wouldn’t want to either, because we firmly believe that it
depends on the individual asking. There are definitely many who
would say that gambling is worth it but also many who would say
that it isn’t.

In this article, we give you the information that will help
you decide for yourself. We list some of the main pros and cons
of gambling, and then look at some of the other factors you need
to consider.

The Pros of Gambling

• Possible to Win Money
• Entertaining & Fun
• Easy to Get Started
• Various Types

Before we get into the details here, we should mention that
people enjoy gambling for a whole host of different reasons.
It’s up for debate which of these reasons should be considered
the most important pros, but the four that we’ve chosen to
discuss here are, in our opinion, the most prominent. You should
bear in mind, though, that there are other pros too.

The possibility of winning money is clearly a very appealing
aspect of gambling, and it would be difficult to argue against
this being one of the major reasons why people choose to gamble.
After all, it’s pretty much the whole point.

It’s not just the fact that it’s possible to win money that
makes gambling so appealing either, it’s the fact that it’s
possible for anyone to win money. There are some forms of
gambling where learning certain strategies and skills can
improve your chances of winning, and maybe even turn you into a
consistent winner if you’re good enough, but even a complete
beginner has the chance to win. You don’t have to be a math
genius, a sports expert, or a card shark either, you just need
luck.

Gambling isn’t just about the money though. Many people
gamble primarily because they simply enjoy it. It’s a great form
of entertainment, and it can be a lot of fun. On the basis of
pure excitement, there are few pastimes that compare in our
opinion. It’s fair to say that it wouldn’t be as exciting if it
wasn’t for the fact that there’s real money at stake, but that
doesn’t mean that everyone views the money as the most important
factor.

Another good reason for giving gambling a try is the ease
with which you can get started. You really don’t need to know
much to play in a casino, place a sports bet, or take part in a
poker game. There are a few basic concepts you’ll have to
understand, but nothing is overly complicated. If you want to be
a more serious player, you’ll probably want to learn more about
what’s involved, but as a beginner you can easily enjoy gambling
with just a little bit of knowledge.

The final pro we’re going to mention is the various types of
gambling. Sports betting and casino games are probably what come
to mind for most people when they think about gambling, but
there are lots of other types too. There’s also poker, bingo,
scratch cards, financial betting, and the lottery to name a few
popular ones. With all of these to try, there’s a good chance
that you’ll find some form of gambling that you enjoy.

The Cons of Gambling

• Possible to Lose Money
• Hard/Impossible to Win Consistently
• People May Not Approve
• Can Be Addictive

Gambling isn’t all about the positives, because there are
definitely downsides to be made aware of too. It’s important to
consider these, as they may persuade you to not to get involved
with gambling in general.

The most obvious con of gambling is the fact that it’s
possible to lose money. With some forms of gambling, you are in
fact almost guaranteed to lose in the long run. Casino games are
the best example of this, as they have a built in house edge
which gives the casino an advantage over the players. You may
get lucky and win in the casino occasionally, or even
frequently, but the odds are against you, and you are very
likely to end up a loser over time.

Although the odds aren’t quite as badly stacked against you
in some other forms of gambling, you still need to be prepared
to lose. The reality is that most gamblers do. If you’re betting
or playing with money you don’t mind losing then this doesn’t
have to be an issue, but it’s still important to recognize that
gambling comes at a cost for most people.

Of course, it’s also possible to win money as we mentioned
earlier. Another negative of gambling is that it’s very hard to
do so consistently. Anyone can get lucky every now and then, but
regularly making money from gambling is entirely different. You
may need to put in a huge amount of time and effort, and you’ll
also need a great deal of discipline. With some forms of
gambling, winning consistently is practically impossible.

Something else to consider is that a lot of people don’t
approve of gambling. While how you spend money isn’t necessarily
anyone’s business but yours, you may not appreciate the
disapproval. This is especially likely to be the case if it
comes from someone close to you. It’s a shame that some people
associate gambling with such a bad stigma, but it’s just the way
it is unfortunately.

The fourth and final negative we’re going to mention is
perhaps the biggest reason why so many people disapprove of
gambling; it can be very addicting. It might only be a
relatively small percentage of gamblers that end up getting
addicted, but it does happen. Like any addiction, it can cause
major problems and potentially even ruin lives.

Making a Decision

• Is Gambling Really Worth It?
• Is it Right For You?

Now that you know the main pros and cons of gambling, you can
make your own decision as to whether or not it’s really worth
it. This basically comes down to whether or not it’s right for
YOU. We can’t, and won’t, advise you either way, but we can help
you make the decision.

What you need to do first is carefully consider the pros and
cons that we’ve discussed above. If the pros easily outweigh the
cons in your mind, or vice versa, then your decision should be
relatively easy to make.

If you’re still not sure, you might want to ask yourself the
following questions.

• Are you happy risking losses for the chance of winning?
• Do you really think gambling is something that you would
  enjoy?
• Do you have the spare money to spend on gambling?
• Would your friends and family approve of you gambling?
• Do you have the discipline to gamble responsibly?

Is Online Gambling Legal

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then it’s very
possible that gambling is something you should try. If you
answered no to any of them, then you may have to consider that
it’s not really worth it for you.

As experienced gamblers ourselves, we very much believe that
gambling can be an extremely enjoyable pastime if done
responsibly. However, we are also completely aware that it isn’t
for everyone.

Our website is filled with information and advice that will
help you get the best possible experience if you do decide to
gamble, but if you have any doubts at all we would suggest that
you take the safe option and look for some other way to spend
your time.

The majority of states on the Eastern seaboard have adopted a liberal stance towards gambling in recent years. So far Virginia online casinos hosted “in-state” are illegal, any that do exist are not regulated, and they operate beyond the remits of the law. There are hopes within the state that the territory will soon become closer aligned with neighboring states West Virginia and New Jersey. But progress has been slow, the consensus in the state legislature is to move slowly and avoid a controversial confrontation with the old party conservative Republicans. Throughout this article we’ll explore in more details exactly how much progress has been made, the history and the culture of the Virginia gambling industry.

• Using sources such as: WTOP Virginia and the NBC Virginiahelps us to be informed about idnustry news and developments at all times.
• Not only do we review online casinos, but we also have experts in every gambling field such as blackjack which have even created an video poker guide.
• We closely follow the movements of the Virginia General Assembly and the Ballotpedia: Virginia to analyse new law change proposals. 

• Washington Top News
• NBC
• Virginia State Seal
• Ballotpedia

Available Casino Games in Virginia

There are unfortunately no licensed brick & mortar casinos in the Dominion State. However, like many territories in the United States, legal loopholes exist, and can be taken advantage of. The interstate casino network which allows residents of states around the country to play and gamble online from sites hosted in legal territories is live and well. Gamblers residing inside Virginia, which itself has no explicit laws on people playing casinos online, can indeed connect and play at these operators. Below you can see an overview of the top games you can expect to access with the inter-state casino network.

• Blackjack: the USA’s favorite card game, can be played in multiple formats online.
• Roulette: the casino classic can be played in the EU and USA format at several operators.
• Craps: fancy a roll of the dice? You will be pleased with the many Craps variants available.
• Bingo: state licensed bingo is able to play at several locations and in the online casinos.
• Lottery: Virginia is running a state lottery for several years now, players can win millions.

Biggest State Land-Based Casinos

Currently the state of Virginia has no licensed land based brick & mortar casinos. But this is expected to change as many of the neighboring territories operate a licensed industry. This issue is becoming heavily debated in the State Legislature, since West Virginia built a huge multi-complex casino right on the border of the two states, with millions of dollars moving across the border, the pressure is on lawmakers to take action.

History of Casino Gambling in Virginia

Virginia has a rich history with gambling, and early settlers were known to have gambled and wagered against one another. But with the onset of tight legal restrictions, it has been difficult for a commercial industry to establish itself in the Old Dominion territory. If the domino effect, that many believe to be imminent, takes hold and states quickly follow each other into a liberalized set of laws for United States online casinos – Virginia is likely to be one of the first to fall. Take a look below at the timeline we have created explaining the key milestones on the journey of Virginia to becoming a legalized gambling territory.

Casino Gambling Age in Virginia

The state of Virginia is not the most accommodating towards online casinos, but it hasn’t outright prohibited their usage. Throughout the entire history of the state, nobody has ever been prosecuted or had charges brought against them for playing in online casinos. The inter-state casino network that exists within the United States can be accessed from Virginia, so long as you’re of age.

• In order to play at the majority of casinos you’ll need to be 18 years old. However, some will require that you’re 21 years old.
• Alcohol consumption in the United States is one of the age limits that can be considered high. 21 years old is the age to buy a beer.
• Marijuana in Virginia is completely prohibited, both for commercial sale, medical prescription and personal consumption

Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention

One of the key advantages of making a legalized gambling industry in your state is the government bodies and agencies that spawn from it. Responsible gambling, and tackling gambling addiction are two main responsibilities of licensed operators. With a regulated casino market comes available funding to launch these agencies, and directly help those that may be suffering in silence under the current conditions. Without any form of licensed gambling in Virginia punters are at the mercy of “off-shore” vendors, in some cases these are un-regulated and hosted in countries with completely different laws to the United States with regards to customer responsibility and data protections.

Legal Gambling Sites

Can I Play Without Deposit?

Playing at a casino without making any form of financial commitment is not something that is usually possible, in most circumstances you won’t be able to experience the selection of games without making a deposit. However, accessing casinos hosted “off-shore” it may sometimes be possible to play with trial funds and test out the game mechanics and chances at a multitude of offered games. With the introduction of a regulated industry this will certainly change, and you’ll see the emergence of many casinos offering customers free spins and trial funds to play through.

Upcoming Casino Regulation and Expected Changes

Relative to the legal framework proposed by the Supreme Court, and implemented throughout the country, Virginia has very harsh and restrictive laws on online casinos / gambling. However, the fight is ongoing, and many skilled and motivated lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to bring about new legislation that is more in tune with the times and consensus of the state. Sports betting is on the verge of being legalized completely, despite being shot down in the Virginia General Assembly, further motions have been filed. Land based casinos are also being widely considered, as neighboring states operate highly lucrative and successful industry, the raw data is too loud to ignore. As for online casinos, these will likely be introduced with the land based casinos. All of this depends on convincing highly conservative Republican lawmakers that games like Poker involve some skill and shouldn’t merely be regarded as gambling. It will be an uphill battle before we see a legal framework such as Pennsylvania implemented in Virginia, but progress has and is being made.

Legal Gambling States

Casino Guides for Nearby States