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Virginia online casino legalization bill amended to require passage in consecutive sessions
A Virginia House of Delegates committee approved the bill but added a provision that would require the legislature to re-approve the measure in 2027.
The Virginia Assembly could be close to approving legislation that would legalize and regulate online casino games in the commonwealth, but it might not matter for at least a year if the current version gains final House of Delegates and Senate approval before the 2026 session ends. An amendment to the bill requires that the Assembly approve the proposal in consecutive sessions before it could proceed to Virginia Gov. Abigail Spencer for final consideration.
Virginia online casino debate likely pushed to 2027
Although the Virginia Senate has approved SB 118, it has been altered from the version the Senate approved. On Feb. 25, the House of Delegates General Laws Committee inserted HB 161 as a substitute for SB 118, which effectively delays the enactment of the legislation at least a year. Currently, nearby WV online casinos exist.
HB 161's provision states that the bill will not become law unless it gains approval from both chambers of the Virginia Assembly in both 2026 and 2027. The legislative package is now with the House of Delegates Appropriations Committee and with approval, it may proceed to the full House floor for a vote.
Should the full House support the bill, House and Senate members would need to reconcile the differences between their versions, which provides a chance for members to remove the provision necessitating re-passage in 2027. As it stands at this time, though, the earliest that Virginians could be playing baccarat casino online games looks like it would be 2028.
Even that is no foregone conclusion, as the composition of the Virginia Assembly could be different in 2027 and the inclusion of the consecutive year provision suggests support for regulated iGaming in the commonwealth is tenuous. The current proposal would present a robust market for residents and visitors.
HB 161/SB 118 enables Virginia online casinos to hit ground running
Under the tenets of HB 161/SB 118, Virginians would have the option to make deposits at the online casinos that accept American Express along with other payment sources as soon as operators would be ready to process such transactions. The bills are unique in another way.
The legislative package would be the first in the US to require licensed iGaming operators to offer bettors live dealer casino games from studios within Virginia when they launch. In other jurisdictions, licensees have been able to make such accommodations after going live. Live dealer games include live dealer blackjack and craps.
The bills could allow for up to 15 different brands in Virginia, with each brick-and-mortar casino in the state having the option to partner with as many as three operators. In some cases, those would be in-house brands, like how Virginians might have access to a Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code for new bettors because Caesars operates a physical casino in Virginia.
That is all contingent upon lawmakers in Virginia coming to terms not just in 2026 but potentially in 2027 as well. For that reason, Virginians shouldn't start to brush up on their online casino game jargon just yet.
