Amelia Walker, a J.D. holder and senior content writer at Betting.US, is a legal expert in responsible gambling. Initially skeptical, she now has over six years in professional gambling. She’s studied gambling law and currently educates gamblers on our site in legal and safe play.
Sports Betting in The United States Virgin Islands
By Amelia Walker
Senior Content Writer
Updated: September 16, 2024
Sports betting in the U.S. Virgin Islands is still yet to come out of its shell and become fully legal. United States Virgin Islands sports betting has not yet been written into law, but there are active steps that lawmakers in the territory are taking to make it fully legal. For more information, read below.
Full List and Map of the United States Virgin Islands Sports Betting Locations
You won't find where to bet on sports in the United States Virgin Islands since the government has not made a decision on legalization. Despite online sports betting in the United States being widespread, this jurisdiction is waiting. The reason for this is that the territory's lawmakers have not been able to reach a final decision concerning allowing residents to bet on sports.
The Best the United States Virgin Islands Sportsbook/s
In Charlotte Amalie, USVI there are no the United States Virgin Islands sportsbooks. Since there are not yet any physical betting locations and the territory is yet to legalize sports betting, there can't be any sportsbooks. However, it is safe to say that in the soonest time possible, the situation would change.| Name | Type | Website | Full Address | Review |
|---|
Betting Locations by Type
As far as physical sports wagering locations are concerned, there are no United States Virgin Islands sports betting locations where bettors can visit to gamble on their choice teams and athletes.
The only way for it to be possible for people in the territory to be able to bet on the games is if the betting activity is officially made legal. Only then will the seven casinos in the United States Virgin Islands have sports book offerings for their patrons. For now, you can only take part in sports gambling activities online either in the comfort of your house or in a cyber café.
Casino Resorts
There are some beautiful casino resorts in USVI that you can visit if you travel to the islands. Asides from offering very nice casino games, these resorts also have interesting and enjoyable side attractions like swimming pools, restaurants, bars, and much more. There are 3 casino resorts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What is special about casino resorts is that you can spend as much time as you want in the betting premises. There are also rooms and suites where you can rest before continuing with the games should you grow tired. The minimum age that is allowed to visit any of these resorts in USVI is 21.
Off Track Betting
Off-track betting is usually done at centers with OTB machines to bet on mostly horse and greyhound races. Betting off the tracks expands the opportunity for making money from horse racing in that even if you are physically present in one location betting on horses live at a racino for instance, you would still be able to place a separate bet on another racing event in an entirely different location.
In the US Virgin Islands off-track betting is not permitted. No form of dog or horse racing is legal in the territory. Also, due to the tourist nature of the islands, charitable gaming is non-existent in USVI.
Cruise Ships and Riverboats
Naturally, you would be curious to know if the United States Virgin Islands have cruise ships and riverboat casinos. After all, the islands are surrounded by the ocean! We are afraid the answer is no. You should note, however, that the lack of a cruise ship with a casino doesn't mean that the law is completely against it. It might just be a matter of necessity.
What we mean is that there might not be any interest in running a cruise ship operation with a casino or that the visitors and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands are also not demanding for one.
List of Legal Land-Based Sportsbooks in the United States Virgin Islands
As of now, there are no legal United States Virgin Islands sports betting locations if you pay a visit to the territory. You'll have to visit legal offshore sites if you want to bet on your fave teams.
Although, we can be sure it is not going to remain this way for too long anymore as more states are beginning to warm up to sports betting, seeing its positive impact on states' economies. Soon there'll be more USVI lawmakers pushing for a change in the sports betting situation of the territory as the economic benefits of this gambling entertainment becomes more evident.
The United States Virgin Islands Sports Gambling - All Leagues and Bet Types
The fact is that United States Virgin Islands sports gambling is not permitted. So, there are no physical sport betting locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands that one can go to in order to place a bet on games like football, golf, basketball, soccer, and more, doesn't stop you from placing bets.
You can take advantage of online sports gambling, which is not against the law, and wager on the different sports teams, leagues, events, and athletes. There are many leagues within and outside the territory like The National Football League, Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, and National Basketball Association. Remember, this is only online.
- Off-Track (Simulcast) Betting
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The State Law Allows Off-Track Betting
Where Can I Check the Current Betting Odds and Lines?
It is advisable to check the betting odds and lines before placing a bet, as it would help you to make a more informed betting decision. When you want to check for betting odds and lines, it is advisable that you do a small research about any upcoming sports events.
For some sports like horse racing and car racing, you can visit the race track. Since you won't find any legal, physical location for sports betting in The United States Virgin Islands, you can still check online for any reputable website that provides odds and lines, so you don't miss out on the fun.
Legal Sports Betting in United States Virgin Islands
If you are a bettor and you visit USVI, one of the first things you will probably want to know is if sports betting is legal in the territory. Even if several states in the U.S. allow sports gambling, some territories like the United States Virgin Islands still don't permit sports betting and wagering of games within their borders.
However, the territory does not have any laws that make it impossible to wager on your favorite sporting events. This means you can still engage in online sports betting even if you are within the territory. The table below gives more information on the status of legal sports betting in the United States Virgin Islands.
Is sports betting legal in United States Virgin Islands?
Currently, United States Virgin Islands sports betting in a physical establishment within the territory is not legal. However, it is promising that in the nearest future, placing a bet on sporting events in the territory would be legalized.
Legal age for sports betting?
According to the territorial law of the United States Virgin Islands, you must be at least 21 before you can be legally permitted to wager on any sport of your choice.
Can you bet online in United States Virgin Islands?
In the USVI, even if it is not yet legal to place bet physically, there is no law that is against placing bets online – meaning you can wager freely online.
Is fantasy sports betting allowed?
Yes, it is. There are no laws restricting the playing of daily fantasy sports (DFS). However, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are no apps available for players to use.
Is off-track betting allowed?
No, off-track betting, as well as any form of horse racing or hound racing betting, is prohibited in the territory. So you won't find locations with OTB machines on the islands.
Are there any restrictions?
The restrictions are pretty obvious in the U.S. Virgin Islands. First, no sports betting at a physical location. Also, horse and hound racing wagers are prohibited on the islands.
Who regulates USVI sports betting?
The Casino Control Commission is an independent body that is in charge of implementing and regulating the laws of gambling in USVI, so it's possible the commission does the honors when sports betting gets legalized.
History of Sports Betting in the United States Virgin Islands
Legal United States Virgin Islands sports betting has not come to fruition. While some lawmakers in the territory are in support and pushing for the territory to fully legalize sports wagering and include it in their entertainment offering, some laws are against it.
However, growth and change in the gambling industry of the territory is anticipated as the years go by. The primary reason as to why this anticipated change has not happened is because of the belief of some legislators that if there is legal sport betting in the territory, it might have a negative impact on the gaming industry of USVI.
| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Introduction of the bill to legalize gambling | The year 2001 was when United States Virgin Islands had introduced a bill to legalize online gambling, making it one of the first territories in the United States to ever get introduced to a gambling bill. However, the application lay dormant for more than a decade. |
| 2011 | Withdraw of initial ruling on the internet gambling | The department of justice decided to resolve the contradiction and released a memorandum that presented a dramatic reversal of their previous ruling, which now opened a door for territorial level legalization of internet gambling. |
| 2013 | Beginning of gambling in United States Virgin Islands | In 2013, the territory was given the green light to allow internet gambling. However, due to some legal issues, the online gambling licensing started causing some problems for the island. |
How to Bet on Sports in the United States Virgin Islands
As of now, the situation of the territory not making sports betting legal does not make it possible to place bets in the United States Virgin Islands. The only way for sport betting to be made legal in the territory is if the government can be convinced that creating a legal sport betting location will not impact the gambling industry in the territory negatively.
The remedy to the current situation in USVI is by visiting offshore betting websites to place sports bets. As long as the offshore websites are legal, then you can conveniently place bets on it without worrying that your money would be taken away.
Are Exchanges and Pari-Mutuel Betting Available in the United States Virgin Islands?
If you noticed, the USVI allowed gambling games we listed above didn't include horse or dog racing. This is because horse racing or hound racing is prohibited in the United States Virgin Islands. And as a result, you will not find any horse racing track, dog racing track, or any facilities that carry out exchanges and pari-mutuel betting services in the islands.
We can only hope that in the nearest future, the lawmakers of the U.S. Virgin Islands territory will come together to legalize and regulate exchanges and pari-mutuel wagering for residents and visitors of the islands.
Taxation of Winnings
When it comes to taxation of winnings, you should definitely expect that the government would tax you even if you make winnings on a different wagering offer in the United States Virgin Islands. According to federal law, you are expected to pay a tax fee of 24% whenever your wins exceed the limit for particular game types.
Also, when you make a win of 300 times the wager size or more, you still pay a tax rate of 24%. When it comes to territorial taxation, your wins are being monitored, so the amount of tax you pay depends on the amount of wins you have whether or not you are a resident of the territory.
Federal Law:
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$600 or more - the payor is obliged to provide you with a W-2G form
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24% tax on winnings that are 300x or more than the stake
Additional State Rules:
- 3%additional tax on gross winnings of $50,000 or less per month
- %tax varies per winning size
- 1.5%tax on gross internet gaming revenue for licensees
About the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands previously known as Danish West Indies is located in the Atlantic Ocean region, east of Puerto Rico and west of British Virgin Island. The U.S. Virgin Islands ranks as one of the least populous territories in the U.S., as well as notable for having a not-so-large land area.
The territory is known for its white-sand beaches, Magens Bay, and its deep-water harbors along the Anegada passage. United States Virgin Islands is also very popular with cruise ships, having St. Thomas as the second largest and the busiest and most commercialized island in the U.S.
| Capital | Charlotte Amalie |
|---|---|
| Largest City | Saint Croix |
| Population | 106,631 |
| Area | 133.7 sq mi |
| Time zone | UTC-4:00 (AST) |
| State Nickname(s) | Twin City (St. Croix), Rock City (St. Thomas), Love City (St. John) |
| Motto | United in Pride and Hope |
| Teams | Sport | League |
|---|---|---|
| The Dashing eagle | Soccer | National Football League (NFL) |
| The USVI National Baseball Team | Baseball | Major League Baseball (MLB) |
| Raymix SC | Soccer | St. Thomas league |
| USVI Men’s national Basketball Team | Basketball | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| USVI Men’s national Soccer Team | Soccer | National Football League (NFL) |
Helping Hand for Gamblers in the United States Virgin Islands
The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is a component of the department of justice and is in charge of investigating applicants for casino licenses and also making a licensing recommendation to the Casino Control Commission as well as helping individuals with problem gambling. So, individuals with problem gambling issues can check with them for help.
Help for Compulsive Gambling in the United States Virgin Islands
- Hotlines Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) 340-773-3136
- Help centres Casino Control Commission Office: 3005 Orange Grove Christiansted, VI 00820
- Website GetGamblingHelp.com
- Hotline 340-718-3616
FAQ
Can you bet on sports in the United States Virgin Islands?
As of now, you may not be able to bet on sports in the United States Virgin Islands. sports betting in the United States Virgin Islands is currently not possible. However, you can visit some legal international betting websites that allow players from USVI for legal sports betting purposes.
Is sports betting legal in United States Virgin Islands?
The sports betting's legal status in the United States Virgin Islands is currently a no. This explains that it is illegal to bet on sports in the territory. Bettors who are caught betting in any location in the territory will be punished. The safer option is to bet online at legal international sites.
Who can apply for a United States Virgin Islands sports betting license?
Since the sports betting's legal status in USVI is still negative, this means that no one can apply for sports betting license in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Until it becomes legal to bet in USVI, only then can the legislators provide the criteria for applying for a license.
How much revenue does sports betting generate in the United States Virgin Islands?
No revenue. Sports betting is still illegal and unregulated in the United States Virgin Islands, which makes it impossible for the territory to make any revenue. As long as there is no law to govern the taxation of winnings in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the territory can't make any revenue.
How many sportsbooks are in the United States Virgin Islands?
There are no official sportsbook brands in the U.S. Virgin Islands territory. The reason for this is that the law in the territory is still against sports betting in any location within USVI. Although, we should expect a change in the nearest future.
What is the minimum age to place sports bets in the United States Virgin Islands?
The minimum age to place sports bets in the United States Virgin Islands is 21, although the minimum age for the lottery is 18. Also, since there are no alcoholic drinks or any form of strictly adult activity in online betting the sports betting's legal status in USVI permits online bettors to start wagering from 18yrs.
Is there online sports betting in the United States Virgin Islands?
Yes. There is online sport betting in the United States Virgin Islands. Since the sports betting's legal status in the U.S. Virgin Islands makes it illegal to make physical bets on sports, you can always bet online on any game of your choice.
How much does the United States Virgin Islands make on sports betting?
USVI is currently not making any money from sports betting. This is because there is still no law governing wagering in the territory. And as long as betting remains illegal in the territory, there can't be a law to govern taxation of winnings in United States Virgin Islands.
What are the best sportsbooks in the United States Virgin Islands?
In USVI, there are no physical sports books. This means that we cannot categorically state which book makers are the best sportsbooks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the nearest future, we can hope some of the best bookies in the industry will be in the territory.
What is the biggest sportsbook in the United States Virgin Islands?
There is currently no sports book in the United States Virgin Islands, so that means we cannot say that any one bookmaker is the biggest sportsbook in USVI. In the nearest future, we can hope some big bookies will be in the territory.