Senate General Laws Committee advances iGaming, skill‑game and poker limits; refers casino, fantasy sports bills to finance
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Summary
The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted to adopt substitutes and refer several gaming proposals to finance, including an iGaming substitute, a proposal creating a Virginia Gaming Commission and amendments limiting poker rebuys and raising age limits for play. Committee members also adopted stricter problem‑gaming measures for online platforms.
The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology advanced a package of gaming measures Wednesday, adopting substitutes and referring multiple bills to the Senate Finance Committee for budgetary review.
Committee members voted to adopt a new substitute for SB 118, the bill setting rules for Internet gaming platforms and creating an initial fee structure. Senator McPike, who summarized the subcommittee work, said the substitute added more prescriptive, statutory problem‑gaming controls. “The substitute captures responsible gaming guidance into explicit and enforceable statutory duties, especially around automated detection, mandated escalation of interventions, and formal ... plans,” he said during debate.
The committee also voted to report and refer SB 195, a bill to create an independent Virginia Gaming Commission, to finance. Senator McPike told colleagues the new measure stems from years of study and would establish oversight responsibilities separate from the Lottery.
On retail and venue gaming, members adopted line amendments to SB 661 to require age verification and to prohibit credit‑card play for certain skill game terminals. Senator Rouse, the bill’s patron, explained the amendment “prohibits the use of credit cards to play a skill game” and said the change strengthens protections for players.
Lawmakers debated changes to charitable and social gaming in SB 765 (Texas Hold’em). The committee adopted subcommittee language limiting individual cash games to bona‑fide members inside a qualified organization’s social quarters, while preserving public participation in sanctioned tournaments. Members also approved a House‑model guardrail for rebuys — permitting rebuy only within the first two hours or until the first break, and one add‑on thereafter — and raised the tournament age from 18 to 21.
Votes at a glance: SB 118 (iGaming substitute) — substitute adopted; referred to Finance. SB 195 (Virginia Gaming Commission) — reported to Finance (Ayes 15, No 0). SB 661 (skill games) — amended to require ID checks and disallow credit‑card play; referred to Finance. SB 765 (Texas Hold’em) — amendments adopted and bill reported.
Committee members said they expect additional technical fixes in Finance but described the actions as an effort to pair industry oversight with stronger consumer‑safety measures. The committee will not take final budget action; all referrals to Finance must be considered in that committee.
