Virginia Senate iGaming Bill May Need 2027 Approval After House Substitution

• The Virginia House General Laws Committee approved a substitute version of the Senate’s iGaming bill
• The committee approved an amendment to SB 118, which brings it more in line with the House approved bill
• The legislation now requires iGaming passage with another mandatory vote in 2027

The Virginia House General Laws Committee approved a substitute to the Senate’s iGaming bill, SB 118, which brings it more in line with the House approved iGaming bill.

The House General Laws Committee this week approved a substitute version of SB 118 by a 16-4 vote. The committee approved an amendment to the bill which requires second passage in 2027 before iGaming can become legal in the Old Dominion State

The Senate and House both approved iGaming bills this legislative session and must now come to a consensus before moving the bill forward.

Amendment Includes 2027 Requirement

The House approved HB 161, a bill to legalize iGaming in the state, on Feb. 17 by a vote of 67-30. However, earlier in the day the legislation had been voted down 46-49, before being brought back up for reconsideration.

It was a similar process as the Virginia Senate, who on Feb. 16 approved iGaming bill SB 118 by a 19-17 margin after it had been initially defeated during its first vote.

The House iGaming bill requires passage in both the 2026 and 2027 legislative sessions before it can be signed into law. It is the largest difference between the two bills. The Senate version of the iGaming bill only requires approval in the 2026 session.

The House General Laws Committee approved the substitute to SB 118, the largest difference being it now requires another vote in 2027 before iGaming can become law. This brings it more in line with the House version of the bill and will next be considered by the House Appropriations Committee.

The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee recently approved HB 161 by a 9-6 vote and moved it forward to the Finance and Appropriations Committee. The House bill still contains the 2027 voting requirement.

iGaming Bill Details

Both pieces of legislation are similar in terms of framework. Casino gaming operators will be able to partner with up to three iGaming operators to conduct iGaming in the state through an initial $2 million platform fee. Additionally, approved iGaming operators will be required to pay a $500,000 initial licensing fee.

The bill authorizes the state’s iGaming tax rate at 20% of an operator’s adjusted gross gaming revenue. The legislation earmarks 5% of revenues allocated to the state’s Problem Gambling Treatment Fund, 6% allocated to the iGaming Hold Harmless Fund until Jan. 1, 2030, and the remaining 89% before Jan. 1, 2030, and 95% after Jan. 1, 2030, allocated to Virginia’s general fund.