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New state laws will change winner publicity, require problem-gambling hotline postings starting July 1
Summary
The board discussed two newly passed pieces of legislation: one prohibits public disclosure of names/hometowns for winners of $1 million or more, and another requires retailers to post the national problem gambling helpline number beginning July 1, 2025.
The Virginia Lottery board heard an update April 9 about recent legislation that will change how the agency and its retail partners handle winner publicity and problem-gambling information.
Executive Director Khaleed Jones told the board a law effective July 1, 2025, prohibits the Lottery from disclosing the name and hometown of anyone who wins $1 million or more and further restricts public release of that information. Jones said staff are updating policies and procedures — including winner intake and communications — and that the agency will “err on the side of player privacy” while implementing the new requirement.
The board also discussed a separate law, effective the same date, that requires gaming retailers and other physical gaming locations to display a conspicuous posting with the national problem gambling helpline number, 1-800-GAMBLER (+1 800 GAMBLER). Jones said the posting requirement is formally the retailer’s responsibility but the Lottery will support retailers to achieve compliance at the roughly 5,300 retail locations.
A third legislative item discussed — the Virginia Gaming Commission proposal that had been in a recent budget amendment — did not pass. Jones and compliance staff told the board they expect unified or revised gaming-regulatory proposals to reappear in future sessions and that the agency will continue preparing for potential next steps.
Context and next steps
- Winner publicity: Staff said questions remain about transitional situations (for example, prizes won before July 1 but collected after), and that the Lottery’s interim practice will favor privacy until formal guidance is finalized.
- Problem-gambling hotline: The law requires the national hotline number to be conspicuously posted; the Lottery will assist retail partners to meet the July 1, 2025 deadline and noted it already provides a voluntary helpline posting and other resources to retailers.
- Regulatory structure: Staff said the Virginia Gaming Commission proposal may return in other forms; the Lottery’s gaming compliance team has been preparing for duties that would transfer under such a commission.
Evidence: These legislative items and staff comments were discussed during the April 9, 2025 board meeting and summarized in staff remarks.
