Are Poker Rooms Legal in Virginia?

In the state of Virginia, gambling is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor. This means that if caught gambling, you could be fined up to $500 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. However, there are some forms of gambling that are exempt from this law, including:

– Bingo games that are conducted by charitable organizations

– Raffles that are conducted by charitable organizations

– Pari-mutuel betting at horse or dog tracks

– State lottery games

Poker is not specifically mentioned in the Virginia code as either being legal or illegal. Therefore, it would fall into the category of gambling that is not specifically exempted from the law.

PRO TIP:It is legal to play poker in Virginia, however, there are restrictions on the type of poker that can be played and how much money can be exchanged. Additionally, it is illegal to operate or participate in a poker room in Virginia.

This means that poker rooms are not legal in Virginia.

If you are caught gambling in a poker room in Virginia, you could be fined and/or imprisoned. However, the chances of being caught and punished are relatively low.

The Virginia State Police do not typically raid poker rooms, and if they did, the players would likely only be charged with a misdemeanor offense.