Virginia Senate subcommittee rejects online casino and skill game bills
But the committee has approved SB 195, which seeks to create an independent gaming regulator.
US.- The Senate General Laws and Technology Subcommittee on Gaming has rejected Senate Bill 118, a proposal to legalise online casino gambling in the state, and Senate Bill 661, which sought to establish a regulatory framework for electronic skill games.
Senate Bill 118 had been proposed by Mamie Locke. It received 4 votes in favour, 3 against and 1 abstention. Supporters argued that igaming was already taking place via unregulated offshore sites and that the state should “put guardrails around it” to ensure consumer protection and capture tax revenue. However, opponents said the proposal didn’t include adequate gambling-harm-related measures and could potentially impact the state’s iLottery sales. The bill could be revisited before the Senate crossover deadline on February 17.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 661 was rejected in a 3-5 vote. Skill games have been a subject of debate in Virginia since a ban was enacted in 2020. Senator Adam Ebbin said: “If you want to gamble and you go into a casino, you know what you’re getting into. But if you’re going to buy milk, bread, or eggs and you just see these glitzy machines in your neighborhoods, that it can be enticing.”
Regulatory overhaul advances
The subcommittee has approved a bill that would create a Virginia Gaming Commission. Senate Bill 195, sponsored by Senator Lashrecse Aird and co-sponsored by Senator Bryce Reeves, was approved in a 8-0 vote. The measure now moves to the full Senate Finance Committee.
During the same session, legislators also approved Senate Bill 756, which would authorise a referendum for a casino in Fairfax County, in a 5-3 vote. The proposal has now been referred to the Finance Committee.
Supporters said the legislation would prevent gaming revenue from flowing to Maryland, while opponents said Fairfax County had not requested casino authorisation and raised land-use concerns.
The bill is similar to one proposed last year. That proposal passed the Senate but got stuck in the House. It faced opposition from local lawmakers and advocacy groups, including the No Fairfax Casino Coalition. An October survey by Global Strategy Group showed that 75 per cent of Fairfax residents are against a casino.
