Virginia Law

Article 3. Licenses.

A. No person shall operate a casino gaming establishment unless he has obtained an operator's license issued by the Department in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder.

B. To obtain an operator's license issued under the provisions of this chapter, the applicant shall (i) make a capital investment of at least $300 million in a casino gaming establishment, including the value of the real property upon which such establishment is located and all furnishings, fixtures, and other improvements, and (ii) possess an equity interest equal to at least 20 percent of the casino gaming establishment.

C. A license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be transferable, provided that the Department has approved the proposed transfer and all licensure requirements are satisfied at the time the transfer takes effect.

D. A nonrefundable fee of $15 million shall be paid by the applicant to the Department upon the issuance of a license and upon any subsequent transfer of a license to operate a casino gaming establishment. Such fees shall be deposited by the Department into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

E. No person issued a license pursuant to this chapter shall be precluded from obtaining a license for online sports betting pursuant to the Virginia Lottery Law (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.) or any subsequently created online sports betting license.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

A. If a majority of those voting in a referendum held pursuant to § 58.1-4123 vote in the affirmative, the eligible host city shall certify its preferred casino gaming operator and submit such certification to the Department within 30 days.

B. Any preferred casino gaming operator desiring to operate a casino gaming establishment shall file with the Department an application for an operator's license. Such application shall be filed at the place prescribed by the Department and shall be in such form and contain such information as prescribed by the Department, including but not limited to the following:

1. The name and address of such person; if a corporation, the state of its incorporation, the full name and address of each officer and director thereof, and, if a foreign corporation, whether it is qualified to do business in the Commonwealth; if a partnership or joint venture, the name and address of each general partner thereof; if a limited liability company, the name and address of each manager thereof; or, if another entity, the name and address of each person performing duties similar to those of officers, directors, and general partners;

2. The name and address of each principal and of each person who has contracted to become a principal of the applicant, including providing management services with respect to any part of gaming operations; the nature and cost of such principal's interest; and the name and address of each person who has agreed to lend money to the applicant;

3. Such information as the Department considers appropriate regarding the character, background, and responsibility of the applicant and the principals, officers, and directors of the applicant;

4. A description of the casino gaming establishment in which such gaming operations are to be conducted, the city where such casino gaming establishment will be located, and the applicant's capital investment plan for the site. The Board shall require such information about a casino gaming establishment and its location as it deems necessary and appropriate to determine whether it complies with the minimum standards provided in this chapter and whether gaming operations at such location will be in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter;

5. Such information relating to the financial responsibility of the applicant, including the applicant's financing plan for the casino gaming establishment, and the applicant's ability to perform under its license as the Department considers appropriate;

6. If any of the facilities necessary for the conduct of gaming operations are to be leased, the terms of such lease;

7. Evidence of compliance by the applicant with the economic development and land use plans and design review criteria of the local governing body of the city in which the casino gaming establishment is proposed to be located, including certification that the project complies with all applicable land use ordinances pursuant to Chapter 22 (§ 15.2-2200 et seq.) of Title 15.2;

8. Such information necessary to enable the Department to review the application based upon the best financial interests of the Commonwealth;

9. Such information necessary to enable the Department to authorize on-premises mobile casino gaming pursuant to Article 11 (§ 58.1-4131 et seq.);

10. Submission of the following: (i) a minority investment plan disclosing any equity interest owned by a minority individual or minority-owned business or the applicant's efforts to seek equity investment from minority individuals or minority-owned businesses and (ii) a plan for the participation of minority individuals or minority-owned businesses in the applicant's purchase of goods and services related to the casino gaming establishment. As used in the subdivision, "minority individual" and "minority-owned business" mean the same as those terms are defined in § 2.2-1604; and

11. Any other information that the Department in its discretion considers appropriate.

C. A nonrefundable application fee of $50,000 shall be paid for each principal at the time of filing to defray the costs associated with the background investigation conducted for the Department. If the reasonable costs of the investigation exceed the application fee, the applicant shall pay the additional amount to the Department. The Board may establish regulations calculating the reasonable costs to the Department in performing its functions under this chapter and allocating such costs to the applicants for licensure at the time of filing.

D. Any license application from an Indian tribe as described in subsection D of § 58.1-4107 shall certify that the material terms of the relevant development agreements between the Indian tribe and any development partner have been determined in the opinion of the Office of General Counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission after review not to deprive the Indian tribe of the sole proprietor interest in the gaming operations for purposes of federal Indian gaming law.

E. Any application filed hereunder shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the applicant. Any person who knowingly makes a false statement on an application is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

F. The licensed operator shall be the person primarily responsible for the gaming operations under its license and compliance of such operations with the provisions of this chapter.

G. The Department may use or rely on any application, supporting documentation, or information submitted pursuant to § 58.1-4032, in reviewing and verifying an application submitted pursuant to this chapter.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 7.

A. If a preferred casino gaming operator, as certified by the applicable eligible host city, submits an application that meets the standards for licensure set forth in this article, the Board shall issue an operator's license to such preferred casino gaming operator. The Board shall not consider an application from any applicant that has not been certified as a preferred casino gaming operator by an eligible host city.

B. The Board may issue an operator's license to an applicant only if it finds that:

1. The applicant submits a plan for addressing responsible gaming issues, including the goals of the plan, procedures, and deadlines for implementation of the plan;

2. The applicant has established a policy requiring all license and permit holders who interact directly with the public in the casino gaming establishment to complete a training course acceptable to the Department in how to recognize and report suspected human trafficking;

3. The casino gaming establishment the applicant proposes to use on a permanent basis is or will be appropriate for gaming operations consistent with the purposes of this chapter;

4. The city where the casino gaming establishment will be located certifies that the proposed project complies with all applicable land use ordinances pursuant to Chapter 22 (§ 15.2-2200 et seq.) of Title 15.2;

5. Any required local infrastructure or site improvements, including necessary sewerage, water, drainage facilities, or traffic flow, are to be paid exclusively by the applicant without state or local financial assistance;

6. If the applicant is an entity, its securities are fully paid and, in the case of stock, nonassessable and have been subscribed and will be paid for only in cash or property to the exclusion of past services;

7. All principals meet the criteria of this subsection and have submitted to the jurisdiction of the Virginia courts, and all nonresident principals have designated the Director as their agent for receipt of process;

8. If the applicant is an entity, it has the right to purchase at fair market value the securities of, and require the resignation of, any person who is or becomes disqualified under subsection C;

9. The applicant meets any other criteria established by this chapter and the Board's regulations for the granting of an operator's license;

10. The applicant is qualified to do business in Virginia or is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth; and

11. The applicant has not previously been denied a license pursuant to subsection C.

C. The Board shall deny a license to an applicant if it finds that for any reason the issuance of a license to the applicant would reflect adversely on the honesty and integrity of the casino gaming industry in the Commonwealth or that the applicant, or any officer, principal, manager, or director of the applicant:

1. Is or has been guilty of any illegal act, conduct, or practice in connection with gaming operations in this or any other state or has been convicted of a felony;

2. Has had a license or permit to hold or conduct a gaming operation denied for cause, suspended, or revoked, in this or any other state or country, unless the license or permit was subsequently granted or reinstated;

3. Has at any time during the previous five years knowingly failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any Department regulation;

4. Has knowingly made a false statement of material fact to the Department or has deliberately failed to disclose any information requested by the Department;

5. Has defaulted in the payment of any obligation or debt due to the Commonwealth and has not cured such default; or

6. Has operated or caused to be operated a casino gaming establishment for which a license is required under this chapter without obtaining such license.

D. The Board shall make a determination regarding whether to issue the operator's license within 12 months of the receipt of a completed application.

E. The Board shall be limited to the issuance of one operator's license for each eligible host city.

F. If, at the time of application, the applicant has not satisfied the capital investment requirement of at least $300 million pursuant to subsection B of § 58.1-4108 but otherwise meets the standards for licensure set forth in this article, the Department shall issue the operator's license, which, prior to satisfying the capital investment requirement, may not be used to conduct gaming other than temporary casino gaming pursuant to subsection G.

G. The Department may authorize casino gaming to occur on a temporary basis for a period of one year under the following conditions:

1. The request to authorize casino gaming is made by a preferred casino gaming operator that has been issued a license consistent with this section.

2. The preferred casino gaming operator has submitted as a part of its application for licensure a construction schedule for a casino gaming establishment that has been approved by the eligible host city and the Department.

3. The temporary casino gaming is to be conducted at the same site referenced in the referendum held pursuant to § 58.1-4123.

4. The preferred casino gaming operator has secured suppliers and employees holding the appropriate permits required by this chapter and sufficient for the routine operation of the site where the temporary casino gaming is authorized.

5. A performance bond is posted in an amount acceptable to the Board.

H. No portion of any facility developed with the assistance of any grants or loans provided by a redevelopment and housing authority created pursuant to § 36-4 shall be used as a casino gaming establishment.

The Department may renew the authorization to conduct temporary casino gaming for an additional year if it determines that the preferred casino gaming operator has made a good faith effort to comply with the approved construction schedule.

I. An operator issued a license under this chapter shall not be precluded from operating a sports betting facility for individuals to participate in sports betting activities in a casino gaming establishment, which may include in-person sports betting where the bettor places a bet directly with an employee of the casino or the sports betting permit holder, or through a kiosk or device.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 7, 15.

A. A casino gaming operator license under this chapter shall be valid for a period of 10 years from its date of issuance but shall be reviewed no less frequently than annually to determine compliance with this chapter and Department regulations. Such annual review shall include a certification by the eligible host city of the status of the operator's compliance with local ordinances and regulations. If the certification states that the operator is not in compliance, the Department shall require the operator to submit a plan of compliance, corrective action, or request for variance.

B. The Board shall establish by regulation the criteria and procedures for license renewal and for amending licenses to conform to changes in a licensee's gaming operations. Such regulations shall require the operator to submit to the Board any updates or revisions to the capital investment plan provided with the initial license application pursuant to subdivision B 4 of § 58.1-4109. Renewal shall not be unreasonably refused.

C. The Department shall require a bond with surety acceptable to it, and in an amount determined by it, to be sufficient to cover any indebtedness incurred by the licensee to the Commonwealth.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. A licensed operator shall keep his books and records so as to clearly indicate the total amount of gross receipts and adjusted gross receipts.

B. The licensed operator shall furnish to the Department reports and information as the Department may require with respect to its activities on forms designated and supplied for such purpose by the Department.

C. Every five years the licensed operator shall submit to the Department for review and approval a reinvestment projection related to the casino gaming establishment to cover the succeeding five-year period of operations.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. Each casino game that operates electronically shall be connected to a central monitoring and audit system established and operated by the Department. Such system shall provide the ability to audit and account for terminal revenues and distributions in real time. The central monitoring and audit system shall collect the following information from each electronically operated casino game, as applicable: (i) cash in, (ii) cash out, (iii) points played, (iv) points won, (v) gross terminal income, (vi) net terminal income, (vii) the number of plays of the game, (viii) the amounts paid to play the game, (ix) door openings, (x) power failures, (xi) remote activations and disabling, and (xii) any other information required by Board regulations.

B. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the licensed operator shall transmit to the Department a third-party, independent audit of the financial transactions and condition of the licensee's total operations. All audits required by this section shall conform to Board regulations.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.