Virginia legislators have actually presented legislation to create the state's first-ever gaming commission in a move that could assist speed up further gaming expansion.

- Lawmakers presented legislation to produce the Virginia Gaming Commission, shifting oversight from the state lottery.

- Separate legislation would legalize real-money online casino video gaming, allowing brick-and-mortar gambling establishments to partner with up to three third-party iGaming operators.

- While the video gaming commission costs currently has bipartisan support, iGaming faces political and market opposition that could make complex passage in 2026.

The expenses introduced in both chambers this week would reassign oversight of Virginia's casino, sports betting, everyday fantasy sports, and historical horse racing industries from the state lotto to the brand-new Virginia Gaming Commission. This would have a negligible direct influence on Virginia sports gamblers or DFS players, however it could help spur even more industry growth in a state that had actually opposed gambling for centuries.

Established in 1987, the Virginia Lottery was the very first contemporary type of "gambling" legalized in the Old Dominion since its founding more than 400 years back. It was the sensible federal government body to manage the boom in brand-new betting kinds in the last few years, today legislators wish to spread out oversight.

The Virginia Lottery would continue to exist. The new commission would manage most other types of managed gaming.

Online gambling establishment capacity

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

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

The Virginia Gaming Commission would likewise manage potential new brick-and-mortar casinos. The costs establishing the commission likewise lays out how new casinos could be approved.

Virginia lawmakers have actually introduced a costs that would legislate real money online casino gaming in the Commonwealth; would enable for as much as 15 separate iGaming operators, three to each of the five existing brick-and-mortar gambling establishments

In 2020, citizens in Danville, Bristol, Norfolk, and Portsmouth authorized the first four licensed in-person gambling establishments in Virginia history. After Richmond citizens turned down a gambling establishment, voters in Petersburg approved the state's 5th video gaming center in 2024.

Several other Virginia jurisdictions, consisting of Roanoke and Tysons, have thought about gambling establishments of their own. Any such expansion would likewise require local citizen approval.

The iGaming legalization expense enables brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with as lots of as three third-party mobile operators apiece. New in-person gambling establishments could potentially develop an avenue for even more iCasinos.

Passing expenses no certainty

The video gaming commission expense currently has bipartisan and bicameral assistance and may prove noncontroversial as the state handles a relatively quick gambling growth after years of little activity. Passing another form in iGaming may show harder.

Online gambling establishment gaming has dealt with stiff opposition in many statehouses. Virginia legislators passed on serious factor to consider in 2015 and deal with much of the very same political headwinds in 2026.

Some Democrats in the House of Delegates and Senate oppose betting over fears it damages consumers, specifically lower-income gamblers. Democrats have bulks in both chambers and flipped the governor's estate last fall.

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

The bill also deals with opposition from some Virginia gaming stakeholders.

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

It remains to be seen whether Virginia can continue its gambling advancement with iGaming expansion. But gaming-related costs introduced in the early days of the state's 2026 legal session highlight legislators' growing interest in the industry.