SB 1323 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act; established, penalties, report.

Summary
Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act established; penalties. Establishes the Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act for the purpose of providing a regulatory and registration scheme for electronic gaming devices in the Commonwealth. The bill authorizes and specifies the registration requirements for the distribution, operation, hosting, and play of electronic gaming devices, as defined in the bill. The bill imposes a $1,200 monthly tax on each electronic gaming device from each distributor, as defined in the bill, and provides for the use of such tax proceeds after deposit in the Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Fund, established in the bill, with most being distributed to the Elementary and Secondary Education Fund, also established in the bill. The bill directs the Virginia Lottery Board to promulgate regulations no later than June 30, 2026, to implement the provisions of the bill and authorizes the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to grant a provisional registration, until the Virginia Lottery Board regulations are promulgated, to any entity that meets the respective criteria.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 11, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025
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What changed between versions

Introduced General Laws and Technology Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill introduces a new legal framework for regulating electronic gaming devices in Virginia, creating a new Chapter 42 in Title 58.1 that establishes licensing requirements, operational standards, and penalties for unregistered or improperly operated devices. The bill also creates a new Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Fund to distribute gaming tax revenue to various state programs including education, problem gambling treatment, and law enforcement. Key changes include defining what constitutes an 'electronic gaming device' as skill-based rather than chance-based, establishing specific licensing categories with associated fees, and setting up a voluntary exclusion program for problem gamblers.
Scope change
The bill significantly expands the regulatory scope by creating a new chapter specifically for electronic gaming devices, which were previously not explicitly regulated under the same framework as traditional gambling devices. It also establishes a new distribution mechanism for gaming tax revenue that was not present in the original version.
FISCAL

Created a new Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Fund with specific allocation percentages: 70% to education, 15% to localities for law enforcement, 2.5% to problem gambling treatment, and other allocations to state agencies.

REQUIREMENT

Established new licensing requirements with specific fee structures: $250,000 for manufacturer licenses, $250,000 for distributor licenses, $25,000 for operator licenses, and $1,000-$2,500 for host location licenses.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'electronic gaming device' to mean devices where the outcome is determined by predominant player skill rather than chance, distinguishing them from traditional gambling devices.

Added new definitions for 'truck stop' requiring specific fuel sales volumes and land requirements, and 'independent testing laboratory' with strict independence requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Created new penalties including civil penalties up to $25,000 per device for unregulated locations, Class 1 misdemeanor charges for violations, and Class 6 felony charges for repeat offenses.

TIMELINE

Set specific implementation deadlines: distributor registration by August 30, 2025; registration labels by September 1, 2025; and full licensing program beginning January 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Established eligibility criteria for host locations including truck stops, ABC retail locations, and traditional lottery agent locations with specific device limits (3 devices for standard locations, 7 for truck stops and ABC locations).

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming
upper
Jan 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Christie Craig
Christie Craig
RRepublican
VA
19