Virginia lawmakers have actually presented legislation to create the state's first-ever video gaming commission in a move that could help accelerate further gaming growth.

- Lawmakers presented legislation to create the Virginia Gaming Commission, shifting oversight from the state lotto.

- Separate legislation would legislate real-money online casino gaming, permitting brick-and-mortar gambling establishments to partner with up to 3 third-party iGaming operators.

- While the video gaming commission expense already has bipartisan support, iGaming deals with political and market opposition that might complicate passage in 2026.

The costs introduced in both chambers this week would reassign oversight of Virginia's gambling establishment, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and historic horse racing industries from the state lotto to the brand-new Virginia Gaming Commission. This would have a minimal direct effect on Virginia sports wagerers or DFS gamers, but it could help stimulate further industry growth in a state that had actually opposed betting for centuries.

Established in 1987, the Virginia Lottery was the very first contemporary type of "gambling" legislated in the Old Dominion because its founding more than 400 years back. It was the logical federal government body to supervise the boom in new betting kinds recently, today legislators wish to expand oversight.

The Virginia Lottery would continue to exist. The brand-new commission would oversee most other types of controlled gaming.

Online gambling establishment capacity

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

If both bills are passed this year, the new commission would be set to control Virginia's latest gambling kind. Virginia could be the ninth state to legislate real-money online video gaming and the 2nd to do so this year, after Maine.

The Virginia Gaming Commission would likewise oversee potential new brick-and-mortar casinos. The costs establishing the commission likewise lays out how new gambling establishments might be approved.

Virginia legislators have presented a bill that would legalize real cash online casino gaming in the Commonwealth; would permit up to 15 different iGaming operators, three to each of the five existing brick-and-mortar casinos

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

Several other Virginia jurisdictions, consisting of Roanoke and Tysons, have thought about casinos of their own. Any such growth would similarly need regional citizen approval.

The iGaming legalization expense enables brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with as lots of as 3 third-party mobile operators apiece. New in-person casinos might potentially develop an opportunity for a lot more iCasinos.

Passing expenses no sure bet

The video gaming commission costs currently has bipartisan and bicameral support and may show noncontroversial as the state deals with a relatively quick gambling expansion after decades of little activity. Passing another form in iGaming may show harder.

Online casino gaming has dealt with stiff opposition in the majority of statehouses. Virginia lawmakers handed down severe consideration last year and face a lot of the same political headwinds in 2026.

Some Democrats in your home of Delegates and Senate oppose betting over fears it harms consumers, particularly . Democrats have majorities in both chambers and flipped the governor's mansion last fall.

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

The costs likewise faces opposition from some Virginia gaming stakeholders.

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

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