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Bill > HB161


VA HB161

VA HB161
Virginia Lottery; internet gaming authorized, definitions, effective clause.


summary

Introduced
01/06/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
02/17/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Virginia Lottery; casinos; internet gaming authorized; penalties. Authorizes internet gaming in the Commonwealth to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board. The bill requires a casino gaming operator that intends to conduct internet gaming to submit a separate notice of intent to the Director of the Virginia Lottery for each internet gaming platform that it intends to offer accompanied by a $2 million platform fee that is to be deposited into the Internet Gaming Platform Fee Holding Fund for the purpose of funding start-up costs and other costs associated with the implementation and creation of a gaming commission. The bill permits the Board to issue an internet gaming operator license to a casino gaming operator that submits an application on forms approved by the Board, meets certain qualifications, and pays an initial licensing fee of $500,000. The tax rate is set at 20 percent of an internet gaming operator's adjusted gross internet gaming revenue with five percent allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, six percent allocated to the Internet Lottery Hold Harmless Fund until January 1, 2037 and the remaining 89 percent before January 1, 2037, and 95 percent after January 1, 2037, allocated to the general fund.

AI Summary

This bill authorizes internet gaming in Virginia, to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board, requiring casino gaming operators to pay a $2 million platform fee for each of up to three internet gaming platforms they wish to offer, with these fees funding the creation of a gaming commission. Operators must also pay an initial $500,000 licensing fee to receive an internet gaming operator license, and will be taxed at 15% of their adjusted gross internet gaming revenue, which is defined as total wagers minus winnings and uncollectible debts. A portion of this tax revenue will go to problem gambling support, another portion to a "Hold Harmless Fund" to offset potential revenue losses for the Virginia Lottery's existing internet lottery, and the remainder to the general fund. The bill also establishes penalties for operating internet gaming without a license, including felony charges, and mandates consumer protections and responsible gaming measures.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (on 02/18/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/18/2026 10:16 am) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169185.PDF
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB161) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1150901.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161HC4
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161HC3
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161H2
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 10:58 am) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132699.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161H1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161HC2
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161HC1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB161) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108388.PDF
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/7/2026 3:21 pm) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083072.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB161/text/HB161
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