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The Commonwealth of Virginia spreads between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. It borders Maryland and Washington, D.C. to the north and east, the Northern Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina to the south, Tennessee to the northwest, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the west and north.
The home of the first settlement in the New World and one of The Thirteen Colonies achieved statehood in 1776 and gave numerous contributions to American society’s foundations.
Both the American Revolution and the Civil War ended in Old Dominion, at Yorktown, and Appomattox. The state is home of the first Thanksgiving ever and Mountain Dew, one of the most popular sodas in the country, and the birthplace of a tennis legend Arthur Ash and no less than eight U.S. presidents.
Not surprisingly, with such rich traditions, Virginia laws consider swearing on the phone as a misdemeanor, while it’s illegal to flip a coin in Richmond.
The economy of the 35th-largest state in the country is quite diversified and based on the shipbuilding, farming and tobacco-growing, fishing, wineries, high-tech and the government sectors — aside from supporting the most extensive naval base in the world.
These verticals contributed to a gross product of $554.2 billion in 2019, equaling 2.6 percent of the United States’ annual GDP.
Until 2020…
…gambling played a minor role in the state society’s scene.
However, following the sweeping legalization initiatives across America, several expansion bills have been introduced lately.
Thus, the Virginians and visiting players can indulge in land-based casinos, online and offline sportsbetting, and lottery.
No specific wording prohibits iGaming — state laws do not expressly ban interactive gambling — and offshore operators accept local punters although there is still no state-regulated onshore operator.
Legal Framework
Until the 1970s, gaming laws were virtually non-existent: The Virginia Statutory Code voided all gambling forms.
Then, in 1973, the state allowed for charitable and social gambling.
The lottery was legalized in 1987, and, since 2000, all profits are exclusively diverted to the state’s education fund.
Two years later, the Virginia Racing Commission was created, with a mandate to govern pari-mutuel betting. In 1997, Colonial Dawns, the first and only horserace track in the state, opened.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on the PASPA paved the way for the 2019 Senate Bill 1126, which legalized sportsbetting (retail and online, excluding college and youth sports) and casino gambling.
In 2020…
…building upon SB 1126, the gambling expansion House Bill 4 was passed into law, authorizing five land-based casinos in Richmond, Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. The venues are permitted to conduct sportsbetting activities as well.
The proposed counties’ final list is subject to voters’ approval in the 2020 General Elections in November.
Under the term “casino gaming,” the law defines and includes most popular activities such as baccarat, poker, blackjack, craps, slot machines, roulette, Klondike and Faro tables, etc.
The HB4 also included language to authorize iGaming.
More precisely, once a licensed brick-and-mortar casino opens to the public, patrons will be able to indulge in on-premises online games on their mobile devices.
The legal gambling age limits are 18 for lottery and 21 for any gambling and sportsbetting.
Licensing
The SB 1126 established the Virginia Lottery Board as a state regulator of the gambling sector (in addition to being the regulatory body for the state lottery).
There are six types of licenses available to land-based casinos and sportsbetting operators, based on permit holder, supplier, vendor, principal, principal entity, and employee criteria.
Fees range from $500 for vendor and employee license, to $50,000 for gambling suppliers and $115,000 for sportsbetting suppliers, up to $250,000 for permit holder license.
Currently…
…Virginia does not exercise a competitive selection process for casino operators.
Essentially, it’s up to a committee of local experts to select the most desirable operator. However, the General Assembly may introduce competitive selection requirements at later stages.
Interestingly, when it comes to sportsbetting licenses, the VLG opted for an intergovernmental deal with the Lottery and Gaming Control Agency of Maryland to support the whole process.
The first licensees are expected in October 2020, based on the VLG operational regulations, while the sportsbetting market targets January 2021 as a launch date for interactive operations.
Players’ Protection
New gambling laws’ establish several initiatives to assist problem- and compulsive gamblers.
The VLG tools already in place include:
- The Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline
- Responsible verification program, designed by the National Council on Problem Gambling
- Bilingual printed materials to help retailers identify potential problematic behavior, and
- Video content advising operators on appropriate ways to engage customers.
In a state-led effort…
…to institute additional levels of players protection, Virginia is funding the new Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund to provide counseling and support services, develop and implement prevention and treatment programs, and offer grants to organizations that spearhead the Fund’s initiatives.
Furthermore, the laws include provisions for voluntary self-exclusion programs.
The General Assembly may consider further steps such as casino licensees’ responsible gambling plans, additional legislation to address other oversight agencies, and cooperation with universities and expert bodies to conduct ongoing evaluation of patrons’ behavioral patterns and trends.
Virginia also participates in seasonal activities during March, which is Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
On the other hand…
…driven by state-economy factors — which played a pivotal role in legalization — all gambling verticals are still work in progress.
To that end, we might see additional efforts to create an equally prosperous, sustainable, and healthy gambling scene and fair-play conditions for all patrons and business parties.
Final Notes
As a newcomer to America’s gaming and sportsbetting stage, Virginia is yet to set foot and establish itself as a flourishing gambling market.
Although land-based vertical still has to kick off — particularly in developing properties contingent on referendum results — major industry operators already made proactive moves to engage with local municipalities.
Therefore, 2021 will probably play the seminal role in painting the final picture of favorable conditions for all parties involved.
Either way…
…if you find yourself gambling or betting in Old Dominion, online or offline, we hope you’ll have a good time, plenty of luck, and even more fun while enjoying games of chances and skills prudently and responsibly.
Further Reading
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