The Virginia State Senate General Laws Committee recently advanced several gambling-related bills, including the SB 118 online casino (iCasino) bill, which successfully broke through after encountering obstacles at the subcommittee hearing. This bill is tied to the establishment of the Virginia Gaming Commission (VGC) through SB 195 and SB 558, and will only take effect after the new commission is established. The bill's sponsor, Senator Mamie Locke, responded to concerns about responsible gambling by submitting amendments, ultimately gaining enough support. Currently, Virginia's gambling industry is divided among three major institutions, and this advancement signals both an industry expansion and a crucial step towards regulatory integration. Relevant U.S. gambling legislation compliance cases can be referenced on the PASA official website.
Core Adjustments: Responsible Gambling Provisions + Unified Regulatory Framework
The smooth progress of the bill is primarily due to targeted revisions and the optimization of the regulatory system:
Enhanced responsible gambling: The amendment requires regulatory agencies to develop advertising guidelines, identity verification requirements, and other protective measures and plans, directly addressing previous legislative concerns;
Regulatory integration implementation: Currently, casinos, sports betting, and charitable gambling in the state are separately managed by the Lottery Commission, the Racing Commission, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, respectively. The establishment of the VGC will achieve "one-stop regulation," simplifying processes and unifying standards;
Regulatory priority: Virginia Public Broadcasting reveals that the establishment of a unified regulatory body has been listed as a legislative priority for this year.
Key Provisions: License, Taxation, and Employment Planning Defined
The bill details the operational rules for online casinos, tax distribution, and employment stimulation:
Operating license: The existing five casinos in the state (with a sixth planned) can each operate up to three online casino platforms, with each platform required to pay a license fee of 2 million dollars;
Tax distribution: Operators' revenues will be taxed at 15%, with 5% going into a problem gambling and treatment support fund, and 6% into an internet gambling protection fund;
Job creation: The bill mandates operators to establish live dealer studios within the state, potentially creating over 1000 jobs;
Associated bill advancement: The concurrently passed SB 129 daily fantasy sports bill imposes a 10% tax on operators' revenues and prohibits "against the house" competitions; the House has already passed HB 515, which proposes to ban credit card recharges for sports betting, and will next submit it to the Senate for review.
Industry Dynamics: Support and Opposition Stand Divided, Progress Faces Uncertainties
The positions of various parties behind the bill are divided, and its further advancement still faces multiple challenges:
Clear opposition: Operators such as Caesars Entertainment and Boyd Gaming support the bill, while major members of the National Anti-Online Gambling Association, such as the Codish Company, are explicitly opposed;
Crucial hurdle: The next step for the bill is to be submitted to the Finance Committee for review, a stage considered by the industry as a "life-or-death situation." It is reported that supporters of the skill-based terminal gambling regulation bill might use the VGC proposal as leverage to add variables to the passage of the iCasino bill;
Historical background reference: Senator Locke had proposed a similar bill last year, which was withdrawn for further discussion. This year, with the regulatory framework perfected and responsible gambling provisions supplemented, the bill welcomes a new opportunity for advancement.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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