Feb 7, 2025 - Sports
Virginia's peak sports betting season
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Football season is the prime time for legalized sports gambling in Virginia.
The big picture: Americans tend to wager far more money during the NFL and college football seasons than during other periods of the year, an Axios review of a dozen states' betting data finds.
- Virginia follows that nationwide trend — a boost during the fall months and a peak during football playoff season, then a dip during the summer during baseball season.
Zoom in: Since the first legal bets were placed in the commonwealth in 2021, Virginians have placed the most bets in the fall and winter, per an Axios review of the data.
- And in November, the state surpassed $700 million wagered on sports in a single month for the first time: Virginia bettors spent just under $757 million on sports bets that month.
- They passed it again in December, betting just over $734 million on sports.
Yes, but: That's nothing compared to the betting activity expected this weekend.
- The American Gaming Association estimates Americans will wager $1.39 billion on the Super Bowl this year.