A state rep has just come forward with a bill that would essentially hand over the reins for keeping an eye on the state’s gaming activities to a brand new commission called the Virginia Gaming Commission. Right now, whoever is watching over the industry is split pretty evenly between three separate agencies.

Virginia lawmakers plan to discuss a range of gambling matters this year.  Two topics include online casino legal status and the creation of a gambling commission.  Delegate Marcus Simon filed bill HB 161 for legal online casinos.  Delegate Paul Krizek plans another bill for a Virginia Gaming Commission to oversee state gambling. Leaders say growth in gambling over the past few years creates a need for central oversight. Virginia approved land casinos in 2019. Sports betting received approval in 2020. Casinos opened and online sports betting platforms entered the market after the laws were passed. The Virginia Lottery Board oversees casinos and sports betting on its own.  Virginia Racing Commission runs live horse racing, historical horse racing machines and advance deposit wagering.  The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services manages charitable gambling and daily fantasy sports.

Two online casino bills came last year from Simon and Senator Mamie Locke. Both bills left the session early for more study of the online casino business. The Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission ran meetings to gain information. Many lawmakers call for a regulatory agency before any further gambling expansion. Virginia Public Radio said agency formation may have been the main target late last year. Former Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin also pushed for a Virginia Gaming Commission in the state budget. Democratic leaders held a majority by seat count in the House and Senate and stopped the plan.

Fast-Growing Gambling Industry

Delegate Krizek told iGB and he felt surprised as the growth of gambling in Virginia came faster than anyone expected. Today, Virginia has three permanent casinos operating and he sounded proud. Two temporary casinos stay open or get ready to open and he felt pressure from the speed. Krizek also said two possible casino sites are under study and he felt curious. He listed several gambling activities already running in Virginia and he sounded focused.

• I saw 1,650 historical horse racing terminals at Rose Gaming Resort and felt amazed by the scale.
• Colonial Downs horse racing runs 47 live race days and I sensed excitement from fans.
• Six charities run poker tournaments and he shared concerns about oversight.
• About 300 charitable bingo halls operate and he hinted at tiredness from uneven rules.
• 3,233 electronic pull-tab machines run in 297 locations and he voiced stress over the spread.
• Online sports betting runs and he sensed ambition in operators.
• Online daily fantasy sports runs and he felt energy across users.

Krizek said three state agencies watch these activities and he sounded frustrated by split duty. Rules stay uneven and repeated work happens in several places and he felt disappointment. He explained the new Virginia Gaming Commission would not create more government offices and he felt relieved. Instead, one agency could watch all gambling, set the same rules and make sure all companies follow them and he felt certainty. He added that players would trust the system more because all games are checked for fairness and he sensed confidence. Krizek believed the new commission would help the state economy and he felt hope.

Clear rules let small businesses, local workers and women- and minority-owned companies compete fairly with bigger firms and he expressed optimism. He said the commission could improve programs to fight problem gambling and he expressed concern for people. He said the commission could prepare the state for future gambling, like online casinos and he projected a vision.

Details of the New Online Casino Bill

Simon shared early ideas for his online casino bill during last year’s study hearings and he felt steady. Under HB 161, the Virginia Lottery Board would continue to oversee online casinos and he offered reassurance. The board said it is already busy with recent expansions and sounded burdened. Bill would let each Virginia casino run up to three online casino platforms known as skins and he sounded deliberate. Each platform would pay a $2 million licence fee and he felt firm. The tax rate would be 15% and 5% of tax money would go to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund and he sounded committed.