Virginia’s iGaming legalization bill passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday, a day after the Senate narrowly approved a companion measure. This sets up the potential for legal online casinos, but close votes in both chambers reaffirm the difficult political road ahead.
The House initially rejected the iGaming bill, 46-49. A motion to reconsider was approved, and on a second vote it passed 67-30 about an hour after the initial rejection.
Senate Bill (SB) 118, passed the Senate on Monday with a 19-17 vote after previously failing the same day.
Lawmakers in both chambers must approve identical versions of the same bill before it can pass into law.
Key Takeaways
- The online gaming bill passed the House on Tuesday after clearing the Senate on Monday.
- Both the House and Senate versions failed earlier in the day but passed after a request to reconsider.
- A fiscal review by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission estimates that iGaming would generate $4.1 billion.
The Senate measure, introduced by Sen. Mamie E. Locke, would legalize online casino gaming in Virginia, including blackjack and slots. Additionally, each of the state’s casinos would be able to launch up to three gaming platforms by partnering with an operator. Each platform's application fee would cost $2 million, while the initial operator license fee would be $500,000.
Under the legislation, the Virginia Lottery Board would oversee the online operations, but additional bills have been filed in conjunction with SB 118, those being Senate Bills 195 and 558, which would create a new gambling regulatory body named the Virginia Gaming Commission and would also delay the launch of an iGaming market until the new commission is established.
It would also push any potential launch until July 2027.
ICYMI: Virginia's online casino gaming legalization bill passed the Senate in a 19-17 vote yesterday; legislation must still pass the House, but a big step forward for legal iGaming
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) February 17, 2026
Proponents of the bill argue that legalizing iGaming would generate surplus revenue for the state. A fiscal impact review commissioned by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission estimated net revenue would total $4.1 billion in the first five years of the active market. Of that, $1.1 billion would go to the state, and $818 million in tax revenue would be distributed among various funds.
The bill still faces serious pushback from opponents. Senator Bill Stanley has been one of the lawmakers vocal about his opposition. After previously supporting the measure, he has since said legalized iGaming would only increase addiction in the state.
On Tuesday, Del. Tom Garrett gave an impassioned plea to reject the bill, citing academic studies that suggest online casino gaming would increase suicides. A portion of the House applauded after he finished speaking.
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Indiana iGaming bill dead in water
While Virginia’s iGaming bill has advanced in the Senate, Indiana hasn’t had much luck this month with its own bill that would have created an online lottery and casino market, as it stalled in the House last week.
House Bill 1432 passed out of the House Public Policy Committee earlier in the month and was meant to advance to the Ways and Means Committee, but no hearing was ever set.
House Speaker Todd Huston confirmed last week that the bill would not move forward in the current legislative session, describing it as complex with various moving parts.
“There’s all sorts of moving parts about how it impacts certain communities, what it does to the overall gaming environment in Indiana. I think all those things just make it complex to work through,” Huston said.
- With files from Ryan Butler
