House passes bill to license electronic gaming devices, imposes 30% tax and caps machines
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Summary
The Virginia House on March 3 passed SB 661 to license and regulate electronic gaming devices, including a proposed 30% tax on gross profits, limits on machines and new penalties; the bill passed on a recorded count, 57–39–1 after sponsors described safeguards and opponents raised concerns about scope.
The Virginia House of Delegates passed Senate Bill 661 on March 3, authorizing the Commonwealth to license and regulate electronic gaming devices and imposing a 30% tax on gross profits from those devices. Delegate Mark Hayes, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the measure creates a licensing framework, criminal and civil penalties for violations and shifts regulatory oversight from the Lottery Board to the Alcoholic Beverage Control authority.
"We need to stop the illegal machines all over this commonwealth," Delegate Hayes said, urging adoption of a regulated program that would replace an unregulated market. Hayes and other sponsors said the bill would limit the authorized market to 15,000 regulated devices, require age restrictions and subject devices to central monitoring and payout standards.
"This bill as it is before us today is replete with strong guardrails," Delegate Krizet said in remarks supporting the measure, listing location limits, payout requirements and connectivity to a central lottery-operated system to track cash flow and malfunctions.
Supporters said the bill would curb an estimated black market for machines (sponsors cited a figure near 90,000 devices), provide tax revenue and establish consumer protections. They described machine limits (sponsors referenced a cap of 15,000 devices), host-location rules (a limited number per ABC-licensed establishment and higher allowances for certain truck-stop venues), and payout minimums intended to mirror regulated casino standards.
Opponents raised concerns about the social effects of expanding legalized gaming and about enforcement. The House debated the policy at length before calling the vote. The clerk recorded the outcome as Ayes 57, Noes 39, Abstentions 1; the chair announced that the bill passes.
What happens next: With House passage, the bill will return to the Senate posture noted in the communication earlier in the day (the House had already taken action on Senate amendments and substitutes during the calendar). Any conference committee or enrollment steps will be announced in subsequent legislative notices.
Votes and procedural record: The sponsor moved passage and the House closed the roll for a recorded count; the clerk reported the final tally. There were no roll-call lists of individual votes published in the transcript beyond the aggregate counts.
