Is Virginia Poised for More Gambling Under Gov. Abigail Spanberger?
Posted on: January 29, 2026, 08:31h.
Last updated on: January 29, 2026, 09:57h.
- Virginia’s General Assembly is considering various gaming bills
- A bill to bring iGaming to the commonwealth cleared a Senate committee
- Under a Democratic governor, more gaming could be passed in Virginia
Legislation in Virginia to authorize online casino gambling cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday. The commonwealth inching closer to becoming an iGaming state was quickly met with stern opposition from some of Virginia’s land-based casino operators, fraternal organizations, and campaigns against more gaming.
Sen. Mamie Locke’s (D-Portsmouth) Senate Bill 118 cleared the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on January 28 with a 9-6 vote.
The iGaming bill proposes allowing brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with up to three third-party online casino platforms, with each skin costing an initial $2 million. Licenses would be renewed annually for $1 million. The five licensed casinos currently operating in Virginia would be allowed to operate their own online casino, with the initial licensing costing a reduced $500K and annual renewals at $250K.
The upfront iGaming fees would help establish a state gaming commission. All iGaming revenue would be subject to a 15% state tax.
SB118 now moves to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Virginia Democrats Heralded Gambling
Virginia’s new Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger seems intent on welcoming in more so-called “sin industries.” Along with recreational marijuana, Spanberger is more willing than her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin (R), to consider additional forms of gambling.
Virginia, once among the most restricted gaming states, underwent a vast expansion of gaming during Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D) tenure. Virginia legalized sports betting, slot-like historical horse racing machines, and five commercial casinos between 2018 and 2020.
Many Virginians are worried that more forms of gambling will come under Spanberger’s leadership.
SB118 is a dangerous, shortsighted, and sweeping expansion of gambling on cellphones 24/7, 365,” said the Virginia Moose Lodges, a nonprofit fraternal organization of 78 lodges and 54 Women of the Moose Chapters. “iGaming siphons money from charities and undercuts major public investments in recently approved casinos.”
Many Moose Lodges in Virginia conduct charitable gaming to support their operations and communities.
The National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG), whose members include The Cordish Companies, which is building the Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in Petersburg, and Churchill Downs, which owns and operates The Rose Gaming Emporium in Dumfries and Rosie’s Gaming Emporium HHR venues across the commonwealth, said online casinos are a net loss.
As the Virginia Lottery Director warned last week, this proposal puts at risk the nearly $900 million the Virginia Lottery contributes to public schools each year. Early impact estimates suggest the commonwealth could lose up to $500 million over the next five years, nearly $100 million per year for schools. In effect, this legislation would defund public education while dramatically expanding 24/7 gambling,” an NAAiG spokesperson said.
“While Gov. Spanberger has made affordability a top priority, quickly moving to 24/7 online gambling would undermine state and local budgets, making it the wrong choice for Virginia,” the statement continued.
Skill Games Also in Focus
Youngkin effectively outlawed controversial skill games found in neighborhood stores. House Bill 1272 seeks to regulate and tax the slot-like machines, with an $800 per month fee for each skill game a business houses.
While other states look to ban neighborhood slots, some elected officials in Virginia want to bring tens of thousands of them to main streets across the commonwealth. Let’s keep these dangerous machines illegal in Virginia,” Virginians Against Neighborhood Slots said.
HB1271, introduced by Del. Cliff Hayes (D-Chesapeake), remains in the House General Laws Committee.
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