Virginia Again Exploring Formation of Gambling Commission

Yes, Virginia is trying again. A new bill is once more proposing the establishment of a state gaming commission.

House Bill 271 proposes the establishment of a Virginia Gaming Commission, which would serve as the official regulating agency for sports betting and casino gambling in the state. Virginia currently offers online sports betting and land-based casinos to the state’s gamblers. 

Currently, all gambling in Virginia is under the auspices of the Virginia Lottery. If Bill HB 271 were to be passed into law, the only regulatory authority for the Virginia Lottery would be to handle the state lottery.

In 2022, a joint legislative audit and review commission put forth the recommendation that a state gaming commission be established in Virginia.

“A central gaming agency can focus on gaming regulation as a core mission and more readily develop the expertise to understand and react appropriately to the rapidly changing gaming industry,” the study read. “A single agency would provide the public, the General Assembly, the executive branch, and gaming owners, operators, employees, vendors, and others with a single point of contact for emerging gaming-related issues.”

Krizek is the driving force behind the Virginia Gaming Commission concept

Delegate Paul Krizek is the member who introduced HB 271. It’s the second attempt to create a specific Virginia Gaming Commission.

Krizek’s original bill, House Bill 2498, didn’t make it beyond the House Appropriations Committee. His latest bill, HB 271, still hasn’t been referred to a committee.

“Right now, we’re still facing a fragmented process that lacks proper oversight,” Krizek told Radio IQ. “It leads to regulatory inconsistencies and consumer confusion. The gaming commission is urgently needed.”

State Senator Adam Ebbin is a supporter of Krizek’s plan.

“The lack of clarity and consistency in Virginia’s regulatory system is colliding with the reality of a rapidly evolving marketplace, and the risks to Virginians are troubling and real,” Ebbin said. “Resetting the regulatory model will strengthen existing protections against operators engaging in illegal and exploitative financial practices.”

In 2023, a joint subcommittee was formed to study the feasibility of establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission to regulate and oversee all forms of gaming in the Commonwealth. Eight meetings were held over a two-year period.

The joint subcommittee recommended that all forms of gaming, except for the state lottery, should be regulated by the proposed Virginia Gaming Commission. However, the November 30, 2025, expiration date arrived without a decision being reached on whether such a commission should be formed.

Bill outlines a specific plan for the Virginia Gaming Commission

Krizek’s bill goes into great detail to explain not only how the proposed Virginia Gaming Commission would be staffed, but also outlines the various facets that this commission would be tasked with filling.

The commission would have a deputy gaming commissioner, a chief operating officer, and a director of regulatory affairs. The proposal calls for a board consisting of 10 members appointed by the Governor.

Nine of those members would be nonlegislative citizens. The board would include one member who has served as a certified public accountant. Another must is someone who is experienced with criminal investigations. Another member should be familiar with the issues involved with problem gambling.

Each member of the commission would serve a five-year term. No one would be permitted to serve more than two consecutive terms.

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