Virginia Sports Betting Handle Tops $532 Million in August as Operator Hold Climbs to 9.63%

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The Virginia Lottery on Thursday released its monthly report detailing sports wagering activity for August 2026, showing that licensed operators handled $532.3 million in bets during the 31‑day period.

Regulators reported that eleven mobile sportsbooks and three retail casinos were authorized to accept wagers throughout August. The Lottery maintains a full list of approved operators on its website under the “approvals” tab.

Bettors across the Commonwealth collected $481.0 million in winnings, producing a 9.63% operator win rate—a measure commonly referred to as “hold,” representing the percentage of wagers retained after payouts.

Under state law, sports betting revenue is taxed at 15% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), defined as total wagers minus total winnings and other allowable deductions. Of the tax collected, 97.5% is directed to Virginia’s General Fund, while 2.5% supports the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The Lottery reported that ten operators posted positive AGR in August, resulting in more than $7 million in tax payments for the month. Through the first two months of the fiscal year, tax collections have reached $23.7 million, underscoring continued growth in Virginia’s sports wagering market.

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