A lawmaker in Virginia wants to make changes to how gaming is regulated in the state.
Del. Paul Krizek introduced House Bill 271, proposing the establishment of a new independent agency that regulates gaming across the Old Dominion. HB 271 establishes the Virginia Gaming Commission and makes the agency the regulator of sports wagering and casino gaming. In Virginia, legal gaming activity is currently regulated by the Virginia Lottery. Under HB 271, lottery operations will be the agency’s only responsibility. Right now, the agency manages online sports betting and the state’s land-based casinos as well.
In addition to sports betting and casino gaming, the Virginia Gaming Commission would also regulate charitable gaming and fantasy sports contests throughout the state. Currently, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees both charitable gaming and DFS operations across the Old Dominion.
What could a gaming commission in Virginia look like?
Krizek’s measure proposes creating a gaming commission that includes a board with 10 members, with nine members required to be nonlegislative citizens. The members are appointed by the state’s governor from a list compiled by the chair of the House Committee on General Laws and the chair of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology. One member of the board is required to have a background in criminal investigations and one member must have experience as a certified public accountant.
HB 271 also calls for one board member to have a familiarity with problem gambling. Board members who work under the commission are subject to five-year terms with a maximum limit of two consecutive terms. In addition to board members, the commission also provides a role for a deputy commissioner of gaming, a director of regulatory affairs and a chief operating officer, who is responsible for handling day-to-day operations.
Potential penalties laid out in HB 271
HB 271 provides the Virginia Gaming Commission with the right to award and revoke gaming licenses and also provides a framework for potential gaming violations. The tampering of gaming devices or software can lead to a fine of up to $50,000 for individual patrons, while businesses are subject to a fine of up to $200,000. Unauthorized online casino machines inside of a business can also trigger both monetary and regulatory penalties with license suspensions on the table, along with fines up to $100,000.
Improper advertising is also covered by HB 271, with the measure allowing the commission to issue fines up to $50,000 for the misuse of the state’s “Virginia is for Bettors” phrase.
Krizek’s proposal emerges as a recurring topic
Virginia lawmakers have been considering the establishment of the Virginia Gaming Commission since 2023, when a joint subcommittee was created to study its feasibility.
“The Virginia Gaming Commission is a step we need to preserve the good, address challenges and build a fair, accountable and prosperous gaming industry for everyone in the Commonwealth,” Krizek told joint subcommittee members last year.
The joint subcommittee’s study led to a recommendation by the Virginia Division of Legislative Services to place all forms of gaming except lottery under the proposed commission. The study sparked the introduction of a similar measure from Krizek that also proposed establishing a new independent agency for gaming in Virginia. The measure, House Bill 2498, failed to progress past the House Appropriations Committee.
Krizek’s latest effort, HB 271, is waiting to be referred to a committee.
