Virginia Governor proposes changes to casino legislation

Governor Ralph Northam wants to alter the way in which tax revenue from casinos is distributed throughout the state

US.- After Lawmakers approved legislation to launch five casinos in Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam still needs to sign the bill into law and has proposes some changes.

Northam had until midnight on Saturday to act on SB 36 or HB 4 but decided to propose amendments to the bills instead of signing them into law, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

The Governor wants to alter the way in which tax revenue from the casinos is distributed throughout the state.

“The Governor is going to amend that provision of the bill that says roughly two-thirds of the [tax] revenue goes to the general fund,” Carter Hutchinson, Deputy Policy Advisor for Northam, told the Courier. 

“He is going to amend that language to designate the funding go to school construction, renovation and repairs. The language is going to be relatively broad given the revenue from the casinos won’t start coming in for at least a couple years, probably more,” he added.

The two bills that cleared the legislature allow for five gambling venues in the state, including sportsbooks.