Online casino gambling has been discussed in Virginia’s legislature, but recent iGaming bills have failed to gain traction. However, a meeting of the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission has reignited the discussion, and we could see iGaming come to the state of Virginia sooner than later.
Online Casino Gaming on the Docket
During a legislative meeting last week, proponents and opponents of iGaming debated the merits of online casino gambling in the state. iGaming advocates decided to take another bite at the apple after Delegate Marcus Simon’s House Bill 2171 and Senator Mamie Locke’s companion bill (SB 827) failed to advance during the last session.
Moreover, the proposed Virginia Gaming Commission would become the state’s oversight body on gaming in the state as opposed to the three different entities overseeing casinos, sports betting, slots, and horse racing.
“You have entities overseeing entities that are overseeing entities; one entity that oversees a complete thing of gaming to me makes common sense,” said a Virginia resident.
Naturally, the revenue that would be generated by online casino gambling was of paramount importance, and according to Delegate Marcus Simon, iGaming would produce $5.3 billion over five years in Virginia.
Next Steps in the Legislative Process
The subcommittee will meet twice more before the legislature reconvenes in January and will discuss the impact of gaming in the state. Mobile sports gambling was launched in January 2021, and casinos have since been sprouting up after receiving legislative permission.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which opened on January 23, 2023, was Virginia’s first casino to welcome the public, but since then, Caesars Virginia, Golden Eagle Corp., and Hard Rock Bristol have followed suit, while another casino is coming to Norfolk.
Many legislators believe that the proposed Virginia Gaming Commission is essential before passing any iGaming legislation to establish a regulatory framework for any future expansion of gaming in the state.
iGaming Debate
Although 39 US states have passed sports betting legislation, only seven states have welcomed online casino gambling, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. The Seminole Tribe in Florida also has mobile sports betting and iGaming exclusivity in the state due to a compact with the state.
Reluctance Toward iGaming Expansion
Although the revenues derived from iGaming dwarf those of mobile sports betting, states have been reluctant to pass legislation for online casino gambling for fear of addiction rates spiking and cannibalizing business from the land-based casinos.
Dave Rebuck, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, refutes those who believe foot traffic at land-based casinos will be adversely impacted.
“I-gaming demonstrated itself to be complementary to the existing forms of gaming and the growth of land-based gaming casinos,” Rebuck said.
Mental Health Concerns
But mental health consultant Brianne Doura-Schawohl warned of a 24/7 casino being accessible on everyone’s mobile device or PC.
“Did you know that if you live within 50 miles of a casino, the rate or the risk profile for problem gambling doubles? What if I told you if you live within 10 miles of a casino, it goes up 90% risk? So what happens when we consider putting a casino in every single pocket?” Doura-Schawohl explained.
She also added, “I have worked for 13 years in this space, and there is no doubt that we deserve to give this the time, debate, and attention that it deserves. These products are different; these products are dangerous.”
