Board approves waivers to align casino lock-up reporting with IRS threshold and to allow Rivers Casino renovations

The Virginia Lottery Board approved two staff-recommended waivers during its Jan. 13 meeting.

First, the board granted a waiver that temporarily aligns enforcement of slot-machine lock/stop-play procedures with current federal reporting thresholds (staff cited $2,000 as the IRS reporting number). Staff described operational complexity for casinos if the Lottery's written regulation locked devices at $1,200 while federal reporting thresholds had risen. The waiver, which staff said will be followed by regulatory review, was moved and approved by voice vote.

Board members discussed operational impacts and required remediation plans. Staff said operators must submit implementation plans and the Lottery will reapprove those plans and perform audits during the interim period. As stated in the motion recorded in the transcript, the waiver "eliminate[s] the requirements to perform these functions ... at all jackpot dollar values over $1,200" and instead require actions at the IRS-established reporting threshold.

Second, the board approved a short-term waiver for Rivers Casino to permit an alternative location for issuing poker-room chips while the casino renovates its cage/poker-area, a change staff described as temporary and limited to a short renovation period. The board also delegated authority to staff to approve similar short-term requests across the Commonwealth when appropriate.

Both waivers were approved by voice vote; the transcript records the motions, seconds and affirmative voice votes but does not provide roll-call tallies.