Virginia’s online casino gaming legalization legislation was not ratified by lawmakers before the 2026 legislative session concluded Saturday, ending regulated iGaming hopes for at least another year.
- Virginia lawmakers failed to approve online casino legislation before the 2026 session ended, delaying legal iGaming in the state for at least another year.
- The House and Senate passed separate versions of the bill but could not reconcile differences before the legislature adjourned.
- Concerns over gambling addiction, job losses and tax revenue distribution contributed to the bill’s collapse despite bipartisan support.
Neither the House of Delegates nor the Senate took up a final version of the bill before the session ended sine die Saturday afternoon. Without the vote and the session concluded, there is no longer a route for legal online slots or table games in the commonwealth in 2026.
The decision not to take up a final vote comes after both chambers had previously approved separate versions of the bill. Though lawmakers organized a bicameral conference committee to work out differences, the full chambers did not take up a final vote.
Last Saturday’s move to not address the legislation underscores the complex political difficulties legalizing digital casinos. Though the legislation received bipartisan support in both chambers, concerns about gambling addiction, lost jobs, and redirected tax revenues helped kill what was the most promising iGaming legalization bill of any state this year.
With Virginia’s defeat, the U.S. appears more likely than ever to go another calendar year without a legalization bill passing. Only eight states have approved real-money iCasinos, and only four of those have a fully competitive market such as the one proposed in Virginia.
Neighboring Maryland is one of the few states to introduce and discuss a bill this year. The Maryland proposal has not received a vote in committee.
Bill details
If approved, each of Virginia’s five existing brick-and-mortar casinos could have partnered with up to three third-party mobile iGaming operators, meaning there was the potential for as many as 15 iCasinos. Virginia lawmakers approved a separate bill that will allow voters in Tysons, Virginia, to approve a sixth casino on this fall’s ballot, which could have also presumably been eligible for iGaming partnerships.
Representatives from Virginia casino operators Caesars and Boyd testified in support of the bill during multiple legislative hearings. Cordish, another Virginia operator, testified against the bill. Hard Rock and Rush Street Gaming operate the state’s other two casino properties.
The split underscored a larger iGaming divide within the industry. Larger national brick-and-mortar operators including Caesars and MGM have backed iGaming, while smaller, regionally focused companies such as Cordish and Virginia historic horse racing terminal operator Churchill Downs have campaigned against iGaming legalization. Proponents have said iGaming complements and expands their customer bases, while opponents have said digital gaming deters in-person attendance and costs jobs.
ICYMI: Virginia's online casino gaming legalization bill will not pass this year after the legislature adjourned its 2026 session without taking a final vote; different versions of the bill passed House and Senate, and iGaming will likely be seriously considered again in 2027
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) March 16, 2026
The companies against iGaming have been joined by policymakers that fear iGaming legalization would spur gambling addiction and other associated problems.
The National Association Against iGaming (NAAIG), whose members include Churchill Downs and Cordish, commended Virginia legislators in a statement released after the legislative session concluded Saturday.
“Virginia lawmakers made the right decision today by rejecting the expansion of online casino gambling,” the NAAIG wrote. “Virginians made their voices heard and stopped a proposal that would have placed casino-style betting on every phone and smart device with 24/7 access.
“iGaming carries serious consequences, including increased risk of addiction and financial harm for families, while diverting money away from brick-and-mortar businesses and our local communities.”
The bills’ sponsors included mandates that any online casino partner open live-dealer studios in the state, a move they argued could create hundreds of new jobs. Both the Senate and House versions directed a portion of gaming tax revenues toward existing industries. Differences, including how much would be allocated to brick-and-mortar properties and the state lottery, created a political sticking point.
Next steps
If passed in 2026, the legislation would have required lawmakers to approve the bill again in 2027, a move that would give elected officials more time to consider iGaming impacts. Practically, this means the failure to act in 2026 had no impact on a launch timeline; logistically, it underscores the remaining trepidation toward iCasinos.
Though the future of iGaming legalization remains uncertain, proponents will likely take up a bill again in 2027. Should a bill with a similar structure to the 2026 version pass without a second reenactment clause, the state’s first iCasinos could go live before the end of 2027.
The revenue potential would likely attract U.S. marketshare leaders FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM as well as virtually all other iGaming operators.
For proponents, the passage of a version of the legislation is each chamber is an encouraging sign that iGaming can garner legislative support, said John Pappas, state advocacy director at the iDevelopment and Economic Association, a gaming advocacy organization.
“The progress made this year shows that Virginia is having a serious and thoughtful conversation about legal iGaming and the benefits of a regulated market,” Pappas wrote in an email to Covers. “In its first year of real engagement, the legislation advanced further than expected and earned strong bipartisan support throughout the process.
“While the bills did not move out of conference before the end of the regular session, the momentum built this year provides a strong foundation to continue the work and move this policy forward at the next possible opportunity.”
