Virginia lawmakers have introduced legislation to develop the state's first-ever video gaming commission in a relocation that might assist accelerate additional gaming expansion.

- Lawmakers presented legislation to create the Virginia Gaming Commission, moving oversight from the state lottery game.

- Separate legislation would legislate real-money online gambling establishment gaming, allowing brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with approximately three third-party iGaming operators.

- While the video gaming commission costs currently has bipartisan support, iGaming deals with political and industry opposition that might make complex passage in 2026.

The costs introduced in both chambers today would reassign oversight of Virginia's casino, sports betting, everyday dream sports, and historical horse racing industries from the state lottery game to the new Virginia Gaming Commission. This would have a negligible direct effect on Virginia sports wagerers or DFS gamers, however it might help spur even more market growth in a state that had actually opposed gambling for centuries.

Established in 1987, the Virginia Lottery was the very first modern kind of "gambling" legislated in the Old Dominion considering that its founding more than 400 years earlier. It was the rational federal government body to oversee the boom in new gambling forms in the last few years, today legislators intend to expand oversight.

The Virginia Lottery would continue to exist. The brand-new commission would supervise most other forms of regulated betting.

Online casino potential

The reorganization expense comes as Virginia is set to once again consider real-money online gambling establishment gaming legislation. In a separate proposition, Virginia would enable third-party iGaming operators to partner with brick-and-mortar gambling establishments to provide digital slots, table video games, and poker.

If both costs are passed this year, the new commission would be set to control Virginia's latest betting type. Virginia might be the ninth state to legislate real-money online gaming and the second to do so this year, after Maine.

The Virginia Gaming Commission would also manage prospective new brick-and-mortar casinos. The costs establishing the commission also lays out how brand-new casinos could be authorized.

Virginia lawmakers have actually presented a costs that would legalize real cash online gambling establishment gaming in the Commonwealth; would allow for approximately 15 separate iGaming operators, 3 to each of the five casinos

In 2020, voters in Danville, Bristol, Norfolk, and Portsmouth authorized the very first 4 certified in-person casinos in Virginia history. After Richmond voters turned down a gambling establishment, voters in Petersburg approved the state's fifth gaming facility in 2024.

Several other Virginia jurisdictions, including Roanoke and Tysons, have actually thought about casinos of their own. Any such expansion would similarly need local voter approval.

The iGaming legalization expense permits brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with as numerous as 3 third-party mobile operators apiece. New in-person gambling establishments could possibly develop an avenue for much more iCasinos.

Passing bills no sure thing

The video gaming commission expense already has bipartisan and bicameral assistance and might show noncontroversial as the state handles a relatively fast betting growth after years of little activity. Passing another form in iGaming might prove more tough.

Online gambling establishment video gaming has actually faced stiff opposition in the majority of statehouses. Virginia lawmakers passed on severe factor to consider last year and face a lot of the very same political headwinds in 2026.

Some Democrats in the House of Delegates and Senate oppose betting over worries it damages clients, especially lower-income bettors. Democrats have majorities in both chambers and flipped the guv's mansion last fall.

Conservative anti-gambling voices also stay strong in the legislature, specifically amongst Republicans. Any iGaming legalization bill would likely require bipartisan assistance to advance.

The costs also faces opposition from some Virginia gambling stakeholders.

Cordish Companies, which holds the Petersburg casino license, has actually vocally opposed iGaming, arguing it funnels homeowners' dollars to out-of-state business at the expense of existing in-state tasks at the brick-and-mortar homes. The operator of a Maryland casino, its opposition helped tank a similar legalization effort in Virginia's northern neighbor last year.

It stays to be seen whether Virginia can continue its gambling development with iGaming growth. But gaming-related expenses introduced in the early days of the state's 2026 legal session highlight legislators' growing interest in the market.