Virginia Online Casino Bills Advance in What Would Have Been a Most Unlikely iGaming State a Decade Ago
Posted on: March 5, 2026, 09:53h.
Last updated on: March 5, 2026, 09:53h.
- The Virginia House and Senate have approved iGaming
- The differing chamber bills are expected to lead to a conference committee
Is Virginia poised to become the ninth state to legalize iGaming? State lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly have signed off on online casino bills, though the statutes differ greatly.
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have passed differing versions of what regulated iGaming might look like in the commonwealth. The stark differences are expected to lead to the formation of a conference committee, where representatives from the Senate and House will try to find common ground to get an iGaming bill across the finish line.
Virginia moving closer to authorizing online casino gambling would have been an unthinkable development less than a decade ago.
Before 2018, the commonwealth was among the most restrictive states when it came to gambling. Aside from the state-run lottery, parimutuel wagering on horse racing, and small games of charitable chance, Virginia had no legal forms of gambling.
Virginia legalized slot-like historical horse racing (HHR) machines in 2018, and two years later, lawmakers and Gov Ralph Northam (D) authorized full-scale casinos with slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting in five designated cities.
Virginia iGaming Bills
Virginia Senate Bill 118 suggests allowing the state’s licensed brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with and/or operate as many as three internet gaming platforms. Each online casino skin would cost a $500,000 platform fee, with licenses renewed annually at $250,000.
Gross gaming revenue from iGaming would be subject to a 20% state tax. Of the state’s take, 95% would be allocated to the Modern Public Education Fund, three percent to the Gaming Regulatory Fund, and 2% to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.
Monies in the Gaming Regulatory Fund would be used for the purposes of funding start-up costs associated with the formation and implementation of a state gaming commission. The regulatory entity would govern most forms of commercial gaming, including casinos, sports betting, and iGaming.
Virginia House Bill 161 seeks a significantly higher cost of entry, with iGaming platform fees set at $2 million. Casinos operating their own iGaming platform, however, would only pay $500,000. Annual renewals would be $1 million and $250,000. The licensing fees would be used to create a state gaming commission.
While the gross tax rate on online casino gambling would also be 20%, HB161 would allocate the bulk of the money (89%) to the state’s General Fund. Six percent would be directed to the Internet Lottery Hold Harmless Fund, an account that would be used to help offset any revenue losses incurred by the Virginia Lottery’s internet lottery offering, and the remaining 5% would go to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.
Evolution Gaming Wants to Bet on Virginia
Evolution Gaming, a Sweden-based company, says it would invest in a Virginia hub should the commonwealth legalize iGaming. The business-to-business iGaming leader says its base in Portsmouth would employ 1,200 people.
Evolution says it would seek to operate a live dealer studio from the city that’s home to Rivers Casino Portsmouth.
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