Bill
Bill > HB161
summary
Introduced
01/06/2026
01/06/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
02/17/2026
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)
Official Document
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