Two new sports betting bills progress in Virginia

The Virginia Senate Committee on General Laws has cleared two new bills that both set out plans to legalise sports betting in the US state.

SB 1238, introduced by Senator Chapman Peterson, calls for the establishment of the Virginia Sports Betting Department and to authorise the new organisation to regulate sports betting.

The bill only includes measures to legalise land-based sports betting, with those interested in obtaining a licence limited to offering services at racetrack and off-track betting facilities. Online and mobile wagering would not be permitted.

Licences would run for three years and cost an initial $5,000 (£3,800/€4,400), with operators required to renew their licence in the state – home to 8.5m people – every three years at a cost of $1,000.

SB 1238 would also impose a 10% tax on an operator’s adjusted gross revenue, with the proposed Virginia Sports Betting Department to retain 2.5% of this to defray its costs of administering the program.

Other measures include establishing a voluntary exclusion program to allow individuals to request that the Department exclude them from participating in sports betting. In addition, the bill would create a Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund to support those suffering from such issues.

Betting would be permitted across all professional sports, but consumers would not be able to place wagers on college or youth sports.

Meanwhile, SB 1356 also calls for the legalisation of sports betting, with plans to rename the Virginia Lottery Board as the Virginia Lottery and Sports Wagering Commission.

Introduced by Senator Frank Wagner, this bill would enable the Commission to operate a digital platform to accept wagers across all sports, including college events, with the exception of teams based in Virginia.

However, the bill does not include provisions for private sports betting operators to apply for a licence in the state, with the online wagering services to be limited to the Virginia Lottery and Sports Wagering Commission.

Other measures set out in SB 1356 are similar to those in SB 1238, whereby the bill would require the Commission to establish a voluntary exclusion program to allow consumers to block themselves from purchasing lottery tickets or placing sports bets. The Commission would retain 2.5% of gross revenue to defray the costs of administering the program.

In addition, SB 1356 would create the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund to support consumers that require help with their gambling issues.

Both bills will now head to the Virginia Senate Finance Committee for further debate.

Confirmation of the two new pieces of legislation means that the total number of bills that have been put forward in Virginia to legalise sports betting now stands at seven.

Last week, the Virginia Senate Committee passed SB1126, which would legalise casino gaming in the state. Casinos would be able to offer table, dice and slot games, as well as sports betting, though there is no provision for online gaming or wagering.

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