Virginia becomes the latest state to consider legalized igaming in 2025

Virginia is the latest state to consider legalizing igaming ahead of the state’s 2025 legislative session, scheduled to start on January 8. 

Senator Mamie E. Locke has pre-filed Senate Bill 827 which, if approved, will allow the Old Dominion State’s three brick-and-mortar casinos to apply for an igaming license before partnering with as many as three online casino operators. 

Locke’s proposed legislation would permit up to nine igaming outfits in Virginia, while each license would cost $1m to secure and be valid for five years. 

The Virginia Lottery Board (VLB) would be responsible for issuing igaming licenses and regulating the sector within the state. 

The bill, which would also legalize online poker, outlines how any operator looking to secure a license will have to already operate in at least three different states. 

As part of the plan put forward to the Senate, igaming operators would be taxed at a rate of 15% on all gross gaming revenue (GGR), with 97.5% of the funds generated going towards the state’s general funds. 

The remaining 2.5% would contribute to Virginia’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. 

“An internet gaming operator may offer up to three internet gaming platforms, either directly or through a licensed internet gaming platform provider, an internet gaming operator may contract with up to three internet gaming platform providers to operate the internet gaming platforms on its behalf,” the bill reads. 

“Each internet gaming platform shall be offered under a single distinct brand, except that each internet gaming platform may use a second distinct brand to offer poker.  

“The internet gaming platforms shall not be required to be branded or co-branded with the brand of the Internet gaming operator or its casino gaming operator.” 

It also outlined that those in possession of an igaming license are allowed to use less than the maximum three operator partners.  

The VLB would need to establish a regulatory framework for the igaming sector in the state by September 2025, though will be able to receive license applications from July 1, as per the bill. 

At the time of writing, only seven US states have legalized igaming, though one of those comes in the form of neighbors West Virginia, which enforces the same rate of tax as the one proposed in Locke’s bill.

Virginia is not the only state to take steps in the direction of legalizing igaming, with Maryland state delegate Vanessa Atterbeary filing a similar bill in the Old Line State.  

House Bill 17 has been assigned to the Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Atterbeary, marking the Democratic politician’s second attempt at pushing for online casino in Maryland since 2024.