Virginia iGaming Passes Twice In General Assembly — Now Real Fight Begins
Legalizing online casino gaming in Virginia just cleared its most dramatic hurdle yet — twice. In a span of two days, both chambers of the General Assembly passed separate iGaming bills after initially voting them down.
Yes, both measures failed on first vote before being resurrected and passed on reconsideration. Welcome to Richmond in late winter. Virginia iGaming passed the General Assembly, but it wasn't easy.
The Virginia House approved HB 161 by a 67–30 Tuesday vote after it had earlier failed 46–49. A day earlier, the Virginia Senate narrowly passed SB 118 by a 19–17 margin — also after an initial defeat.
Momentum? Absolutely. Done deal? Not even close.
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Two Days, Two Virginia iGaming Bills
The Senate’s approval of SB 118 marked the first breakthrough. But the drama didn’t stop there. The House followed with HB 161 in a procedural déjà vu moment — initial rejection, reconsideration, passage.
Both bills now cross over to the opposite chamber for review. And while they share a nearly identical regulatory framework, there’s one critical structural difference that could define the timeline.
The Key Difference: Timeline to Enactment
The Senate version requires Virginia iGaming approval in the 2026 legislative session only. If that occurs and the bill is signed into law, Virginia iGaming could launch July 1, 2027.
The House version adds an extra hurdle: it requires passage in both the 2026 and 2027 sessions before heading to the governor’s desk.
That two-session requirement significantly complicates the path forward. Even if lawmakers align on policy language this year, the House structure effectively builds in a delay mechanism.
In other words: the Senate bill is built for speed. The House bill is built for caution.
Now lawmakers must reconcile the two approaches into identical legislation before sending anything to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
What Virginia iGaming Bills Actually Do
Both versions create a regulated online casino Virginia iGaming marketplace tied to Virginia’s existing casino operators operated by the Virginia Lottery Board.
Here’s the framework:
- Casino Partnerships: Each of the four land-based casino operators may partner with up to three iGaming platforms.
- Platform Fee: $2 million initial platform fee.
- Operator License Fee: $500,000 initial licensing fee.
- Tax Rate: 15% of adjusted gross gaming revenue (AGR).
Revenue allocations are structured as follows:
- 5% to the Problem Gambling Treatment Fund
- 6% to the iGaming Hold Harmless Fund through Jan. 1, 2030
- 89% to the General Fund before Jan. 1, 2030
- 95% to the General Fund after Jan. 1, 2030
The model mirrors the state’s existing regulated sports betting structure but applies it to digital slots and table games.
Industry Applause — And Political Resistance
John Pappas, State Advocacy Director for the iDevelopment and Economic Association (iDEA), praised the votes as a “major step forward,” arguing that regulated iGaming would expand consumer protections and generate new revenue.
This progress comes despite a wave of misleading claims from opponents that mischaracterize how regulated iGaming works and what it actually means for consumers, accountability, and Virginia’s existing gaming industry." John Pappas
But opposition remains organized and vocal.
Critics have raised concerns about cannibalization of retail casino revenue, addiction risks, and broader gambling expansion. The fact that both bills initially failed before passing underscores how divided lawmakers remain before Virginia iGaming becomes law in the Commonwealth.
This isn’t a runaway train. It’s a tug-of-war.
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What Happens Next?
Three major hurdles remain:
- Chamber Reconciliation: The House and Senate must agree on identical language.
- Session Requirements: Lawmakers must resolve whether the bill requires one or two sessions of approval.
- Governor’s Signature: Gov. Spanberger would need to sign the final measure.
Even if everything aligns, a July 1, 2027 launch date is the earliest realistic timeline.
Virginia legalized retail sports betting in 2020 and has steadily expanded gaming through brick-and-mortar casinos. Online casino gaming would represent the Commonwealth’s most significant gambling expansion yet.
For now, Virginia iGaming is alive — and closer than it has ever been.
But as this week proved, nothing in Richmond is official until it survives a second vote.
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