Virginia Lawmakers Who Backed iGaming Bill Receive $100K in Campaign Contributions

Virginia’s online casino push went bust in 2026, but a handful of state senators in Richmond still walked away winners.

Virginia came close to joining eight other states in legalizing iGaming, but the General Assembly ultimately couldn’t come to terms on how to regulate online casinos. Both legislative chambers passed internet gambling bills (Senate Bill 118, House Bill 161), but a conference committee failed to find middle ground.

There was not one single holdup, with the session’s mid-March adjournment blamed for the conference committee’s assigned delegates and senators being unable to settle on a compromise.

The two iGaming bills proposed differing tax rates, licensing fees, and rules on credit cards. The state’s current casino operators were also divided, with Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock, Boyd Gaming, and Rush Street Gaming relatively supportive of iGaming expansion, while Cordish Companies opposed liberalization.

Though online gambling in Virginia remains on hold, a new report highlights that the politicking was still beneficial for certain lawmakers.

$100K Campaign Donations

David Poole is a seasoned journalist in Virginia, previously serving as the executive director of the Virginia Public Access Project. On his Substack Poole Report, Poole exposes that a handful of state senators were given $100,000 each this legislative offseason by a lobbying firm linked to the iGaming bills.

Five Republicans who backed SB118, the iGaming bill led by Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton County), received political contributions from the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA). The SBA is an organization that advocates for the regulation of online sports betting and iGaming. Its members include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, and bet365.

Sens. Christie Craig (R-Chesapeake City), Danny Diggs (R-Yorktown), Emily Jordan (R-Smithfield), Todd Pillion (R-Abingdon), and Glen Sturtevant (R-Midlothian) each received $100,000 from the SBA weeks after Virginia’s 2026 legislative session concluded.

Poole reports that the $100,000 contribution was “four times the largest corporate check” that Jordan’s received in her entire nine-year career in Richmond. Jordan told Poole that “no person, group, or entity” will affect her vote.

In a statement, the SBA defended its political actions.

The Sports Betting Alliance supports legislators throughout the country who stand up for increased consumer protections and commitments to responsibility in legal, regulated gaming markets. We contribute to candidates on both sides of the aisle, and we intend to continue doing so.”

Sports Betting Alliance

How Legalization Impacts Unregulated Gambling

The SBA website says Virginians are already gambling online through offshore casino websites and sweepstakes casino platforms. The group argues that by legalizing and regulating online casinos, consumers are protected against offshore, illegal gambling websites that don’t pay taxes or ensure consumer protection and fair play.

A recent study from another politically charged gaming group tells a different story.

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), which opposes iGaming legalization, says authorization of online casinos only leads to more consumer losses and does little to hurt unregulated gambling.

The CFG’s core argument is that legalized iGaming does not actually reduce illegal gambling but normalizes the activity and increases total consumption.