Virginia iGaming Bill Clears House After Narrow Senate Vote

Virginia lawmakers advanced legislation to legalize online casino gaming after both chambers approved related measures in back to back votes ahead of a legislative deadline.

Good to Know

• House of Delegates reversed an earlier rejection and passed the bill 67 to 30 after a reconsideration motion.
• Senate approval came one day earlier with a narrow 19 to 17 vote.
• Any launch would not occur until at least July 2027 under companion legislation tied to a new regulator.

Momentum built quickly despite clear disagreement inside the legislature. The House first voted down the proposal 46 to 49, then reopened debate and switched course roughly an hour later, delivering passage on a second vote.

Senate Bill 118 had already cleared the Senate after an equally tight margin. Lawmakers must still align both chambers on identical language before the proposal can move forward in the legislative process.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Mamie E. Locke, authorizes legal online casino play statewide, including digital blackjack and slot games. Each land based casino would be permitted to partner with operators to run as many as three branded platforms.

Licensing costs form a major part of the framework. Each platform would carry a 2 million dollar application fee, while operators would pay an initial license fee of 500,000 dollars to enter the market.

Oversight Structure Could Shift Before Launch

Regulation would fall under the Virginia Lottery Board at first, though related legislation proposes a broader restructuring. Senate Bills 195 and 558 outline creation of a new Virginia Gaming Commission that would eventually assume oversight responsibilities.

Establishing that body would delay implementation. Current timelines push any operational start date to July 2027, giving regulators time to build rules, staffing, and enforcement systems.

Backers argue digital casino gaming could produce a sizable fiscal return. A study prepared for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission estimated 4.1 billion dollars in net revenue during the first five years of operation.

From that total, about 1.1 billion dollars would flow directly to the state, while roughly 818 million dollars in tax proceeds would be distributed across designated public funds.

Supporters frame the bill as a way to capture gambling activity already occurring on unregulated platforms while creating a controlled and taxable environment.

Opposition Focuses On Social Impact Concerns

Resistance remains strong among several lawmakers who warn about long term effects. Senator Bill Stanley, once supportive, later argued expansion could worsen addiction problems.

During House debate, Del. Tom Garrett urged colleagues to reject the legislation, pointing to academic research he said links online casino access to increased suicide risk. Applause followed remarks from some members in the chamber, underscoring the emotional nature of the debate.

The post Virginia iGaming Bill Clears House After Narrow Senate Vote appeared first on iGaming.org.