Two competing bills aimed at legalizing online casino gaming in Virginia have continued their smooth progress through the state legislature, with lawmakers now required to reconcile the differences between the two proposals.
SB118 started in the Senate and HB161 came from the House – both have been passed in both chambers but only one can become law.
After new readings, SB118 was passed with 70 votes in the affirmative and 29 against, while for HB161, there were 21 votes for and 17 against.
They each seek to authorize regulated online casino gaming in the state for the first time, allowing citizens to access digital slots, table games and poker through licensed platforms.
The bills will now be considered at a conference committee – one or the other may be chosen, though lawmakers may decide to merge aspects of each in a new reconciled bill.
Under the proposals, the Virginia Lottery Board would be granted oversight of the newly created market – this is the body that already regulates sports betting and land-based casino gaming in Virginia.
In February, the two bills swapped chambers, both being voted through after initially being rejected.
The Senate’s SB118 eventually squeaked through by 19 votes to 17 after a revote was called.
A similar situation cropped up with the House Bill, demonstrating the variety of mixed opinions within the legislature on an expanded gambling market in Virginia.
The two bills are indeed broadly similar and both would allow Virginia’s existing land-based casino operators to launch online platforms, up to a maximum of three 'skins' per operator.
Rules would dictate that a 15% tax would be levied on operators via adjusted gross internet gaming revenue.
Newer amendments have introduced a delay mechanism. This process means that the legislation would need to pass again in the 2027 legislative session before it could take effect.
This delays any potential launch of the new market to 2028.
If ultimately approved and signed into law, the legislation would mark the latest expansion of gambling in Virginia following the introduction of sports betting in 2020 and the rollout of several land-based casinos in recent years.
In January, a failed bill attempted to legalize sports betting on college sports
