Senate General Laws committee forwards multiple gaming bills to finance after debate over gaming commission and skill-game language

RICHMOND — The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on an item recorded in the committee transcript forwarded a package of gaming-related bills to the Finance Committee and took other actions after a lengthy gaming subcommittee report and extended debate over whether to incorporate a separate bill on electronic “skill” gaming into the omnibus gaming commission bill.

Senator Sam McPike, presenting the gaming subcommittee report, summarized the panel’s recommendations on a series of bills and urged the committee to act on the subcommittee’s dispositions. "It is the recommendation that the bill be PBI'd with letter to the Joint Commission on the formation of the Gaming Commission, for further evaluation and study," he said when describing the panel’s recommendation on one measure.

The committee moved bills in several directions. Several measures were reported and referred to the Committee on Finance (or to Finance and Appropriations where noted); others were struck at the request of the patron; at least one was passed by indefinitely (PBI). Outcomes included:

- SB 827 (Virginia Lottery / internet gaming): The committee voted to pass the bill indefinitely (PBI) with a letter for further review; vote recorded as 12–0 in favor of PBI. - SB 862 and SB 863: Both bills were stricken at the patron’s request (votes recorded 11–0 and 12–0, respectively). - SB 864 (horse racing breakage rules): A subcommittee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported and re-referred to Finance (committee vote recorded 12–0 in favor of reporting the substitute). - SB 889 (para-mutual wagering / Shenandoah County Fair Association): A substitute was adopted and the bill…