Virginia Law

Chapter 40. Virginia Lottery Law; Sports Betting.

Article 1. Powers and Duties of Virginia Lottery Board; Administration of Tickets and Prizes.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Virginia Lottery Law."

1987, c. 531; 2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

This chapter establishes a lottery to be operated by the Commonwealth which will produce revenue consonant with the probity of the Commonwealth and the general welfare of its people, to be used for the public purpose.

1987, c. 531.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Board" means the Virginia Lottery Board established by this chapter.

"Casino gaming" or "game" means baccarat, blackjack, twenty-one, poker, craps, dice, slot machines, roulette wheels, Klondike tables, punchboards, faro layouts, numbers tickets, push cards, jar tickets, or pull tabs and any other activity that is authorized by the Board as a wagering game or device under Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.). "Casino gaming" or "game" includes on-premises mobile casino gaming.

"Department" means the independent agency responsible for the administration of the Virginia Lottery pursuant to this article and sports betting pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.).

"Director" means the Director of the Virginia Lottery.

"Lottery" or "state lottery" means the lottery or lotteries established and operated pursuant to this chapter.

"On-premises mobile casino gaming" means casino gaming offered by a casino gaming operator at a casino gaming establishment using a computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet-switched data networks through which the casino gaming operator may offer casino gaming to individuals who have established an on-premises mobile casino gaming account with the casino gaming operator and who are physically present on the premises of the casino gaming establishment, as authorized by regulations promulgated by the Board.

"Sports betting" means placing wagers on sporting events as such activity is regulated by the Board.

"Ticket courier service" means a service operated for the purpose of purchasing Virginia Lottery tickets on behalf of individuals located within or outside the Commonwealth and delivering or transmitting such tickets, or electronic images thereof, to such individuals as a business-for-profit delivery service.

"Voluntary exclusion program" means a program established by the Board pursuant to § 58.1-4015.1 that allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from engaging in the activities described in subdivision B 1 of § 58.1-4015.1 by placing their name on a voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures set forth by the Board.

1987, c. 531; 2014, c. 225; 2016, c. 461; 2020, cc. 1197, 1218, 1248, 1256.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 (§ 18.2-325 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 or any other provision of law, there is hereby established as an independent agency of the Commonwealth, exclusive of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of government, the Virginia Lottery, which shall include a Director and a Virginia Lottery Board for the purpose of operating a state lottery.

1987, c. 531; 2014, c. 225.

A. The Board shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be citizens and residents of the Commonwealth and all of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly if in session when the appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. At least one member shall be a law-enforcement officer, and at least one member shall be a certified public accountant authorized to practice in the Commonwealth. Prior to the appointment of any Board members, the Governor shall consider the political affiliation and the geographic residence of the Board members. The members shall be appointed for terms of five years. The members shall annually elect one member as chairman of the Board.

B. Any vacancy on the Board occurring for any reason other than the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original term.

C. The members of the Board shall receive such compensation as provided in § 2.2-2813, shall be subject to the requirements of such section, and shall be allowed reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

D. Before entering upon the discharge of their duties, the members of the Board shall take an oath that they will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of the office during their continuance therein and they shall give bond in such amount as may be fixed by the Governor, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of their duties. The premium on such bond shall be paid out of the Virginia Lottery Fund.

E. No member of the Board shall:

1. Have any direct or indirect financial, ownership, or management interest in any gaming activities, including any casino gaming operation, charitable gaming, pari-mutuel wagering, or lottery.

2. Receive or share in, directly or indirectly, the receipts or proceeds of any gaming activities, including any casino gaming operation, charitable gaming, pari-mutuel wagering, or lottery.

3. Have an interest in any contract for the manufacture or sale of gaming devices, the conduct of any gaming activity, or the provision of independent consulting services in connection with any gaming establishment or gaming activity.

1987, c. 531; 2004, c. 630; 2014, c. 225; 2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. The Department shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of a Director, who shall be a person of good reputation, particularly as to honesty and integrity, and shall be subject to a thorough background investigation conducted by the Department of State Police prior to appointment. The Director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly if in session when the appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. The Director shall receive a salary as provided in the general appropriations act.

B. The Director shall devote his full time to the performance of his official duties and shall not be engaged in any other profession or occupation.

C. Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, the Director shall take an oath that he will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of his office during his continuance therein and shall give bond in such amount as may be fixed by the Governor, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. The premium on such bond shall be paid out of the Virginia Lottery Fund.

1987, c. 531; 2014, c. 225.

A. The Director shall supervise and administer:

1. The operation of the lottery in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder; and

2. The regulation of casino gaming in accordance with Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.).

B. The Director shall also:

1. Employ such deputy directors, professional, technical and clerical assistants, and other employees as may be required to carry out the functions and duties of the Department.

2. Act as secretary and executive officer of the Board.

3. Require bond or other surety satisfactory to the Director from licensed agents as provided in subsection E of § 58.1-4009 and Department employees with access to Department funds or lottery funds, in such amount as provided in the rules and regulations of the Board. The Director may also require bond from other employees as he deems necessary.

4. Confer regularly, but not less than four times each year, with the Board on the operation and administration of the lottery and the regulation of casino gaming; make available for inspection by the Board, upon request, all books, records, files, and other information and documents of the Department; and advise the Board and recommend such matters as he deems necessary and advisable to improve the operation and administration of the lottery and the regulation of casino gaming.

5. Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license issued pursuant to this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder.

6. Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license or permit issued pursuant to Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.).

7. Eject or exclude from a casino gaming establishment any person, whether or not he possesses a license or permit, whose conduct or reputation is such that his presence may, in the opinion of the Director, reflect negatively on the honesty and integrity of casino gaming or interfere with the orderly gaming operations.

8. Immediately upon the receipt of a credible complaint of an alleged criminal violation of Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.), report the complaint to the Attorney General and the State Police for appropriate action.

9. Inspect and investigate, and have free access to, the offices, facilities, or other places of business of any licensee or permit holder and may compel the production of any of the books, documents, records, or memoranda of any licensee or permit holder for the purpose of ensuring compliance with Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) and Department regulations.

10. Compel any person holding a license or permit pursuant to Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) to file with the Department such information as shall appear to the Director to be necessary for the performance of the Department's functions, including financial statements and information relative to principals and all others with any pecuniary interest in such person.

11. Impose a fine or penalty not to exceed $1 million upon any person determined, in proceedings commenced pursuant to § 58.1-4105, to have violated any of the provisions of Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) or regulations promulgated by the Board.

12. Enter into arrangements with any foreign or domestic governmental agency for the purposes of exchanging information or performing any other act to better ensure the proper conduct of casino gaming operations or the efficient conduct of the Director's duties.

13. Enter into contracts for the operation of the lottery, or any part thereof, for the promotion of the lottery and into interstate lottery contracts with other states. A contract awarded or entered into by the Director shall not be assigned by the holder thereof except by specific approval of the Director.

14. Certify monthly to the State Comptroller and the Board a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements and other expenses for the preceding month.

15. Report monthly to the Governor, the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, House Committee on Finance, and House Committee on Appropriations the total lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses for the preceding month and make an annual report, which shall include a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses, as well as a separate financial statement of the expenses incurred in the regulation of casino gaming operations as defined in § 58.1-4100, to the Governor and the General Assembly. Such annual report shall also include such recommendations for changes in this chapter and Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) as the Director and Board deem necessary or desirable.

16. Report immediately to the Governor and the General Assembly any matters that require immediate changes in the laws of the Commonwealth in order to prevent abuses and evasions of this chapter and Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the lottery.

17. Notify prize winners and appropriate state and federal agencies of the payment of prizes in excess of $600 in the manner required by the lottery rules and regulations.

18. Provide for the withholding of the applicable amount of state and federal income tax of persons claiming a prize for a winning ticket in excess of $5,001.

19. Participate in the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee established pursuant to § 37.2-304 by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to enable collaboration among prevention and treatment providers and operators of legal gaming in the Commonwealth on efforts to reduce the negative effects of problem gambling.

C. The Director and the director of security or investigators appointed by the Director shall be vested with the powers of sheriff and sworn to enforce the statutes and regulations pertaining to the Department and to investigate violations of the statutes and regulations that the Director is required to enforce.

D. The Director may authorize temporary bonus or incentive programs for payments to licensed sales agents that he determines will be cost effective and support increased sales of lottery products.

1987, c. 531; 1992, cc. 422, 449; 2004, c. 630; 2006, c. 598; 2008, c. 302; 2014, c. 224; 2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2023, cc. 588, 589.

A. As used in this section, "gaming business" means any person who holds or has applied for a permit or license under the provisions of Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.) or Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.), or any affiliate thereof.

B. A gaming business is prohibited from using the phrase "Virginia is for Bettors" in an advertisement in association with its product or service. Any gaming business that violates the provision of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000. The Director shall enforce the provisions of this section.

C. All civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall accrue to the general fund.

2022, c. 475.

A. The Board shall have the power to adopt regulations governing the establishment and operation of a lottery pursuant to this article and sports betting pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.). The regulations governing the establishment and operation of the lottery and sports betting shall be promulgated by the Board after consultation with the Director. Such regulations shall be in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). The regulations shall provide for all matters necessary or desirable for the efficient, honest, and economical operation and administration of the lottery and sports betting and for the convenience of the purchasers of tickets or shares, the holders of winning tickets or shares, and sports bettors. The regulations, which may be amended, repealed, or supplemented as necessary, shall include the following:

1. The type or types of lottery or game to be conducted in accordance with § 58.1-4001.

2. The price or prices of tickets or shares in the lottery.

3. The numbers and sizes of the prizes on the winning tickets or shares, including informing the public of the approximate odds of winning and the proportion of lottery revenues (i) disbursed as prizes and (ii) returned to the Commonwealth as net revenues.

4. The manner of selecting the winning tickets or shares.

5. The manner of payment of prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares.

6. The frequency of the drawings or selections of winning tickets or shares without limitation.

7. Without limitation as to number, the type or types of locations at which tickets or shares may be sold.

8. The method to be used in selling tickets or shares, including the sale of tickets or shares over the Internet.

9. The advertisement of the lottery in accordance with the provisions of subsection E of § 58.1-4022.

10. The licensing of agents to sell tickets or shares who will best serve the public convenience and promote the sale of tickets or shares. No person under the age of 18 shall be licensed as an agent. A licensed agent may employ a person who is 16 years of age or older to sell or otherwise vend tickets at the agent's place of business so long as the employee is supervised in the selling or vending of tickets by the manager or supervisor in charge at the location where the tickets are being sold. Employment of such person shall be in compliance with Chapter 5 (§ 40.1-78 et seq.) of Title 40.1.

11. The manner and amount of compensation, if any, to be paid licensed sales agents necessary to provide for the adequate availability of tickets or shares to prospective buyers and for the convenience of the public. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the Board shall not be required to approve temporary bonus or incentive programs for payments to licensed sales agents.

12. Apportionment of the total revenues accruing from the sale of tickets or shares and from all other sources and establishment of the amount of the special reserve fund as provided in § 58.1-4022.

13. Such other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient and economical operation and administration of the lottery.

14. The operation of sports betting pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.). In adopting such regulations, the Board shall establish a consumer protection program and publish a consumer protection bill of rights. Such program and bill of rights shall include measures to protect sports bettors, as defined in § 58.1-4030, with respect to identity, funds and accounts, consumer complaints, self-exclusion, and any other consumer protection measure the Board determines to be reasonable.

15. The administration of a voluntary exclusion program as provided in § 58.1-4015.1.

The Department shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 43 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) of Title 2.2; however, the Board shall promulgate regulations, after consultation with the Director, relative to departmental procurement which include standards of ethics for procurement consistent with the provisions of Article 6 (§ 2.2-4367 et seq.) of Chapter 43 of Title 2.2 and which ensure that departmental procurement will be based on competitive principles.

The Board shall have the power to advise and recommend, but shall have no power to veto or modify administrative decisions of the Director. However, the Board shall have the power to accept, modify or reject any revenue projections before such projections are forwarded to the Governor.

B. The Board shall carry on a continuous study and investigation of the lottery and sports betting throughout the Commonwealth to:

1. Ascertain any defects of this chapter or the regulations issued hereunder which cause abuses in the administration and operation of the lottery and sports betting and any evasions of such provisions.

2. Formulate, with the Director, recommendations for changes in this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder to prevent such abuses and evasions.

3. Guard against the use of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder as a subterfuge for organized crime and illegal gambling.

4. Ensure that this law and the regulations of the Board are in such form and are so administered as to serve the true purpose of this chapter.

C. The Board shall make a continuous study and investigation of (i) the operation and the administration of similar laws that may be in effect in other states or countries, (ii) any literature on the subject that may be published or available, (iii) any federal laws that may affect the operation of the lottery and sports betting, and (iv) the reaction of Virginia citizens to the potential features of the lottery and sports betting with a view to recommending or effecting changes that will serve the purpose of this chapter.

D. The Board shall hear and decide an appeal of any denial by the Director of the licensing or revocation of a license of a lottery agent pursuant to subdivision A 10 of this section and subdivision B 5 of § 58.1-4006. The Board shall hear and decide an appeal of any penalty, denial of a permit or renewal, or suspension or revocation of a permit imposed by the Director pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.).

E. The Board shall have the authority to initiate procedures for the planning, acquisition, and construction of capital projects as set forth in Article 4 (§ 2.2-1129 et seq.) of Chapter 11 and Article 3 (§ 2.2-1819 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 2.2.

F. The Board may adjust the percentage of uncollectible gaming receivables allowed to be subtracted from adjusted gross revenue, as defined in § 58.1-4030, if it determines that a different percentage is reasonable and customary in the sports betting industry.

1987, c. 531; 1988, c. 788; 1989, c. 228; 1990, c. 732; 1999, c. 716; 2004, c. 630; 2006, c. 598; 2008, c. 302; 2020, cc. 117, 332, 1218, 1256.

All lottery tickets printed after July 1, 1997, shall bear a toll-free telephone number for "Gamblers Anonymous" or other organization which provides assistance to compulsive gamblers.

1997, cc. 64, 118; 1998, c. 201; 1999, c. 736.

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 117 and 332, cl. 2.

All persons employed by the Department shall be fingerprinted before, and as a condition of, employment. These fingerprints shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a National Criminal Records search and to the Department of State Police for a Virginia Criminal History Records search. All board members, officers and employees of any vendor to the Department of lottery on-line or instant ticket goods or services working directly on a contract with the Department for such goods or services shall be fingerprinted, and such fingerprints shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a National Criminal Records search conducted by the chief security officer of the Virginia Lottery. A background investigation shall be conducted by the chief security officer of the Virginia Lottery on every applicant prior to employment by the Department. However, all division directors of the Virginia Lottery and employees of the Virginia Lottery performing duties primarily related to security matters shall be subject to a background investigation report conducted by the Department of State Police prior to employment by the Department. The Department of State Police shall be reimbursed by the Virginia Lottery for the cost of investigations conducted pursuant to this section or § 58.1-4005. No person who has been convicted of a felony, bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, or of a crime involving moral turpitude shall be employed by the Department or on contracts with vendors described in this section.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 1992, c. 449; 2004, c. 555; 2014, c. 225.

A. No license as an agent to sell lottery tickets or shares shall be issued to any person to engage in business primarily as a lottery sales agent. Before issuing such license, the Director shall consider such factors as (i) the financial responsibility and security of the person and his business or activity; (ii) the accessibility of his place of business or activity to the public; (iii) the sufficiency of existing licensees to serve the public convenience; and (iv) the volume of expected sales.

B. For the purposes of this section, the term "person" means an individual, association, partnership, corporation, club, trust, estate, society, company, joint stock company, receiver, trustee, assignee, referee, or any other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a court or otherwise, and any combination of individuals. "Person" also means all departments, commissions, agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth, including counties, cities, municipalities, agencies and instrumentalities thereof.

C. The chief security officer of the Virginia Lottery shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and fingerprints that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Director deems a National Criminal Records search necessary, on applicants for licensure as lottery sales agents. The Director may refuse to issue a license to operate as an agent to sell lottery tickets or shares to any person who has been (i) convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) convicted of bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, (iii) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection, (iv) convicted of a felony, or (v) engaged in conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the Lottery. The Director may refuse to grant a license or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license issued pursuant to this chapter to a partnership or corporation, if he determines that any general or limited partner, or officer or director of such partnership or corporation has been (a) convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, (b) convicted of bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, (c) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection, (d) convicted of a felony, or (e) engaged in conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the Lottery. Whoever knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for licensure to the Virginia Lottery for lottery sales agent is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

D. In the event an applicant is a former lottery sales agent whose license was suspended, revoked, or refused renewal pursuant to this section or § 58.1-4012, no application for a new license to sell lottery tickets or shares shall be considered for a minimum period of 90 days following the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew.

E. Prior to issuance of a license, every lottery sales agent shall either (i) be bonded by a surety company entitled to do business in this Commonwealth in such amount and penalty as may be prescribed by the regulations of the Department or (ii) provide such other surety as may be satisfactory to the Director, payable to the Virginia Lottery and conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties.

F. Every licensed agent shall prominently display his license, or a copy thereof, as provided in the regulations of the Department.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 2004, c. 555; 2006, c. 598; 2014, cc. 224, 225.

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person licensed as provided in this chapter is hereby authorized to act as a lottery sales agent.

B. The rules and regulations of the lottery shall provide for an initial licensing fee and an annual license review fee to be collected from each lottery sales agent. Such fee, as promulgated by rule and regulation of the Board, shall be designed to recover all or such portion of the installation and annual operational costs borne by the Department in providing services to the agent.

1987, c. 531; 2004, c. 630.

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 37 (§ 58.1-3700 et seq.) or § 58.1-4025 relating to local license taxes, the term "gross receipts" as used in Chapter 37 shall include only the compensation actually paid to a licensed sales agent as provided by rule or regulation adopted by the Board consistent with the provisions of subdivision A 11 of § 58.1-4007.

B. Unless otherwise provided by contract, any person licensed as a lottery agent who makes rental payments for the business premises on which state lottery tickets are sold on the basis of retail sales shall have that portion of rental payment based on sales of state lottery tickets or shares computed on the basis of the compensation received as a lottery agent from the Virginia Lottery.

1987, c. 531; 2014, c. 225.

The Director may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew, after notice and a hearing, any license issued pursuant to this chapter. Such license may, however, be temporarily suspended by the Director without prior notice, pending any prosecution, hearing or investigation, whether by a third party or by the Director. A license may be suspended, revoked or refused renewal by the Director for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Failure to properly account for lottery tickets received or the proceeds of the sale of lottery tickets;

2. Failure to file a bond if required by the Director or to comply with instructions and rules and regulations of the Department concerning the licensed activity, especially with regard to the prompt payment of claims;

3. Conviction of any offense referenced in subsection C of § 58.1-4009 subsequent to licensure;

4. Failure to file any return or report, to keep records or to pay any fees or other charges required by this chapter;

5. Any act of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the Commonwealth lottery;

6. If the number of lottery tickets sold by the lottery sales agent is insufficient to meet administrative costs and public convenience is adequately served by other licensees;

7. A material change, since issuance of the license, with respect to any matters required to be considered by the Director under this chapter; or

8. Other factors established by Department regulation.

1987, c. 531; 1992, c. 449.

A. No right of any person to a prize drawn shall be assignable, except that: (i) payment of any prize drawn may be paid according to the terms of a deceased prize winner's beneficiary designation or similar form filed with the Department or to the estate of a deceased prize winner who has not completed such a form; (ii) the prize to which the winner is entitled may be paid to a person pursuant to an appropriate judicial order; and (iii) payment of any prize drawn may be paid in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-4020.1. Payments made according to the terms of a deceased prize winner's beneficiary designation or similar form filed with the Department are effective by reason of the contract involved and this statute and are not to be considered as testamentary or subject to Chapter 4 (§ 64.2-400 et seq.) of Title 64.2. The Director shall be discharged of all liability upon payment of a prize pursuant to this section.

B. Investments of prize proceeds made by the Department to fund the payment of an annuitized prize are to be held in the name of the Department or the Commonwealth and not in the name of the prize winner. Any claim of a prize winner to a future payment remains inchoate until the date the payment is due under Department regulations.

C. Except as provided in Chapter 19 (§ 63.2-1900 et seq.) of Title 63.2 and this chapter, no lottery prize or installment thereof may be subject to garnishment or to a lien of any kind until such prize or installment thereof has been paid or distributed.

D. Whenever the Department or the Director is or may be named as a party in any proceeding instituted by or on behalf of one or more persons who claim ownership of a winning lottery ticket, prize, share or portion thereof for the purpose of determining the ownership or right to such ticket, prize, share or portion thereof, the Director may voluntarily pay or tender the prize, share or portion thereof into the circuit court where the action is filed, or may be ordered to do so by the court, and shall thereupon be discharged from all liability as between the claimants of such ticket, prize, share or portion thereof without regard to whether such payment was made voluntarily or pursuant to a court order.

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the Commonwealth or to authorize any attachment, garnishment, or lien against the prize, share or portion thereof paid into the court except as permitted by subsection C.

1987, c. 531; 1992, c. 449; 1995, c. 423; 2003, c. 924.

No person shall sell a ticket or share at any price or at any location other than that fixed by rules and regulations of the Department. No person other than a licensed lottery sales agent or his employee shall sell lottery tickets or shares, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any person from giving lottery tickets or shares to another person over the age of 18 years as a gift. No person shall operate a ticket courier service in the Commonwealth.

Any person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

1987, c. 531; 1992, c. 449; 2004, c. 630; 2006, c. 598; 2016, c. 461.

Lottery sales agents licensed in accordance with this chapter shall accept only cash or debit cards in payment for the purchase of lottery tickets or shares.

2006, c. 598.

No ticket or share shall be sold to or redeemed from any person under the age of eighteen years. Any licensee who knowingly sells or offers to sell or redeem a lottery ticket or share to or from any person under the age of eighteen years is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478.

A. The Board shall adopt regulations to establish and implement a voluntary exclusion program.

B. The regulations shall include the following provisions:

1. Except as provided by regulation of the Board, a person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program agrees to refrain from (i) playing any account-based lottery game authorized under the provisions of this article; (ii) participating in sports betting, as defined in § 58.1-4030; (iii) engaging in any form of casino gaming that may be allowed under the laws of the Commonwealth; (iv) participating in charitable gaming, as defined in § 18.2-340.16; (v) participating in fantasy contests, as defined in § 59.1-556; or (vi) wagering on horse racing, as defined in § 59.1-365. Any state agency, at the request of the Department, shall assist in administering the voluntary exclusion program pursuant to the provisions of this section.

2. A person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program may choose an exclusion period of two years, five years, or lifetime.

3. Except as provided by regulation of the Board, a person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program may not petition the Board for removal from the program for the duration of his exclusion period.

4. The name of a person participating in the program shall be included on a list of excluded persons. The list of persons entering the voluntary exclusion program and the personal information of the participants shall be confidential, with dissemination by the Department limited to sales agents and permit holders, as defined in § 58.1-4030, and any other parties the Department deems necessary for purposes of enforcement. The list and the personal information of participants in the voluntary exclusion program shall not be subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). In addition, the Board may disseminate the list to other parties upon request by the participant and agreement by the Board.

5. Sales agents and permit holders shall make all reasonable attempts as determined by the Board to cease all direct marketing efforts to a person participating in the program. The voluntary exclusion program shall not preclude sales agents and permit holders from seeking the payment of a debt incurred by a person before entering the program. In addition, a permit holder may share the names of individuals who self-exclude across its corporate enterprise, including sharing such information with any of its affiliates.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

No ticket or share shall be given as a gift or otherwise to any person under the age of eighteen years. Any person who knowingly gives a lottery ticket or share to any person under the age of eighteen years is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

1987, c. 531.

Any person who forges, alters or fraudulently makes any lottery ticket or share with intent to present for payment or to transfer to another person to be presented for payment or knowingly presents for payment or transfers to another person to be presented for payment such forged, altered or fraudulently made counterfeit lottery ticket or share sold pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 1990, c. 732.

Any person who wrongfully and fraudulently uses, disposes of, conceals or embezzles any public money or funds associated with the operation of the lottery shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person who wrongfully and fraudulently tampers with any equipment or machinery used in the operation of the lottery shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person who makes inaccurate entries regarding a financial accounting of the lottery in order to conceal the truth, defraud the Commonwealth and obtain money to which he is not entitled shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony.

1987, c. 531; 2006, c. 598.

A. Any person who steals or otherwise unlawfully converts to his own or another's use a lottery ticket, prize, share, or portion thereof shall be guilty of larceny. For purposes of this subsection, the value of a lottery ticket, prize, share, or portion thereof shall be deemed to be the greater of its face amount or its redemption value.

B. Any person who, with intent to defraud, steal, embezzle, or violate the provisions of § 18.2-186.3, designs, makes, prints, or otherwise produces, in whole or in part, a document or writing, whether in printed or electronic form, which falsely purports to be correspondence from or on behalf of the lottery shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Jurisdiction shall lie and prosecution may proceed under this subsection in any county or city (i) in which the document was created; (ii) from which it was sent, regardless of the form of delivery; or (iii) in which it was received, regardless of the form of delivery.

2006, c. 598.

A. As used in this section, "ticket discounting" means reselling or having a person other than the prize winner claim a winning lottery ticket or buying or claiming a winning lottery ticket for the purpose of assisting the original prize winner with concealing his identity as a prize winner.

B. No person shall engage in the practice of ticket discounting.

C. Any person found to have engaged in the practice of ticket discounting shall be fined as determined by the Director (i) for prizes of less than $1,000, not more than $250; (ii) for prizes of $1,000 or more but less than $5,000, more than $250 but not more than $500; and (iii) for prizes of $5,000 or more, no less than $1,000. All fines recovered for violations of this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Literary Fund, in accordance with § 19.2-353.

2019, c. 762.

A. No ticket or share shall be purchased by, and no prize shall be paid on a ticket purchased by or transferred to, any Board member, officer or employee of the lottery, or any board member, officer or employee of any vendor to the lottery of lottery on-line or instant ticket goods or services working directly on a contract with the Department for such goods or services, or any person residing in the same household of such member, officer or employee or any person under the age of eighteen years, or transferee of any such persons.

B. Only natural persons may purchase lottery tickets and claim prize winnings. In all cases, the identity and social security number of all natural persons who receive a prize greater than $100 from a winning ticket redeemed at any Department office shall be provided in order to comply with this section and §§ 58.1-4015, 58.1-4016 and 58.1-4026, and Chapter 19 (§ 63.2-1900 et seq.) of Title 63.2.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 1992, c. 449; 1996, c. 954; 1999, c. 34.

No person who owns or is employed by any retail establishment in the Commonwealth shall use any "instant ticket" game or contest for the purpose of promoting or furthering the sale of any product without first obtaining a license to do so from the Director. For the purposes of this section, an "instant ticket" game or contest means a game of chance played on a paper ticket or card where (i) a person may receive gifts, prizes, or gratuities and (ii) winners are determined by preprinted concealed letters, numbers, or symbols which, when exposed, reveal immediately whether the player has won a prize or entry into a prize drawing, but shall not include any "instant ticket" game or contest licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to Article 1.1:1 (§ 18.2-340.15 et seq.) of Title 18.2. The fact that no purchase is required in order to participate shall not exclude such game or contest from the provisions of this section; however, nothing in this section shall prohibit any retail establishment from using a Virginia lottery ticket to promote or further the sale of any products except those having both a federal and state excise tax placed on them. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

1996, cc. 462, 505; 2003, c. 884; 2008, cc. 387, 689.

A. Unclaimed prizes for a winning ticket or share shall be retained by the Director for the person entitled thereto for 180 days after the drawing in which the prize was won in the case of a drawing prize and for 180 days after the announced end of the lottery game in the case of a prize determined in any manner other than by means of a drawing. If no claim is made for the prize within the 180 days, the Director shall deem such prize forfeited by the person entitled to claim such winnings.

B. All prizes deemed forfeited pursuant to subsection A shall be paid into the Literary Fund. The Director may develop procedures, to be approved by the Auditor of Public Accounts, for estimating the cumulative total of such unclaimed prizes in any lottery game in lieu of specifically identifying unclaimed prizes where such specific identification would not be cost effective. The Director, within 60 days after the end of each 180-day retention period, shall report the total value of prizes forfeited at the end of such period to the Comptroller, who shall promptly transfer the total of such prizes to the Literary Fund. The total value of prizes forfeited during the fiscal year shall be audited by the Auditor of Public Accounts in accordance with § 58.1-4023. In the case of a prize payable over time on one or more winning tickets, if one or more winning tickets is not claimed within the 180-day redemption period, the Department shall transfer the then current monetary value of such portion of the prize remaining unclaimed to the Literary Fund in accordance with procedures approved by the State Treasurer. "Current monetary value" shall be determined by the net proceeds from the sale of that portion of jackpot securities allocated to the unclaimed winner plus the amount of the initial cash payment.

C. Subsection B of this section shall not apply to prizes of $25 or less resulting from any lottery game other than a lottery game in which a drawing determined the prize. The Board shall adopt regulations for the disposition of all such unclaimed prizes of $25 or less not resulting from a drawing. Such disposition shall be directed in whole or in part to either the Virginia Lottery Fund or to other forms of compensation to licensed sales agents.

D. For purposes of this section, "prize" refers to a cash prize. In the case of a prize payable over time and not as a lump sum payment, "prize" means the present cash value of the prize, not the value paid over time.

E. In accordance with the provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (50 App. U.S.C.A. § 525), any person whose unclaimed prize was deemed forfeited pursuant to subsection A while he was in active military service may claim such forfeited prize by presenting his winning ticket to the Director no later than 180 days after his discharge from active military service. Within 30 days of such presentation, the Director shall verify the claim and report the verification to the Comptroller. The Comptroller shall promptly pay the verified claim first from funds available in the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund in § 3-2.00 of the general appropriations act; if such funds are insufficient, then, from any undesignated, unreserved year-end balance of the general fund. All verified claims shall be paid in accordance with the Board's rules and regulations then in effect regarding the manner of payment of prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 1992, c. 449; 1994, c. 49; 1996, c. 975; 2014, c. 225.

A. Lottery prizes, payable in installments over a period of time, excluding prizes payable for the winner's life, may be voluntarily assigned or pledged as collateral for a loan, in whole or in part, by the person entitled to such installments, by written contract affirming that the requirements of this section have been met and endorsed by written order of a court of competent jurisdiction after a hearing. The order shall specify the name, address and social security number or tax identification number of the assignee or lender and shall specifically describe the payments be assigned or pledged as collateral by date and gross pre-tax amount. The Department shall be given notice of any hearing held pursuant to this section and shall have the right to appear and participate in such hearing. Venue for hearings held pursuant to this section shall be in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.

The rate charged for any such assignment or loan shall not exceed 15 percent.

The contract shall:

1. Be signed by the assignor and the assignee or the lender and the borrower, and the assignor or borrower shall affirm the assignment or loan has been voluntarily executed.

2. Include or be accompanied by a sworn statement attesting that the assignor or borrower (i) is of sound mind and not acting under duress; (ii) has been advised in writing by the assignee or lender to seek independent legal counsel and independent financial counsel concerning the implications of the assignment or loan, including the tax consequences, and has either received such advice or knowingly waived such advice in writing; (iii) understands that he is relinquishing or limiting his rights to receive the lottery proceeds; and (iv) has received from the Virginia Lottery, in response to a written request therefor, confirmation of the assignee's or lender's registration with the Virginia Lottery in accordance with subsection E of this section.

3. Include a disclosure statement setting forth (i) the amounts assigned or loaned; (ii) the dates such amounts are payable; (iii) the purchase price paid for the assignment or loan; (iv) the rate of discount to present value, assuming daily compounding and funding on the contract date; (v) the amount of any fees associated with the assignment or loan and by whom such fees are payable; and (vi) the tax identification number of the assignee.

4. Expressly state that the assignor or borrower has three business days after signing the contract to cancel the assignment or loan.

5. Expressly state that the assignee or lender is eligible to purchase, share or receive prizes of the Virginia Lottery pursuant to §§ 58.1-4015, 58.1-4016 and subsection A of § 58.1-4019, and that the Virginia Lottery has complied with subsection B of § 58.1-4019 in that the original prizewinner is (or if deceased, was) a natural person if and to the extent that the prize was awarded on or after the effective date pursuant to subsection B of § 58.1-4019.

6. Expressly state that no amounts assigned or loaned are subject to setoff pursuant to Article 21 (§ 58.1-520 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title.

B. The Commonwealth, the Virginia Lottery and any employee or representative of either shall be indemnified and held harmless upon payment of amounts due as set forth in the court order.

C. The Lottery may establish a reasonable fee to process the assignments provided for in this section and to receive, review and file the registration required by subsection E and confirm compliance with the registration requirements. The fee shall be reflective of the direct and indirect costs of processing the assignments or registrations.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commonwealth and the Virginia Lottery shall not accept any assignment if either of the following has occurred:

1. Federal law provides that the right to assign lottery proceeds is deemed receipt of income in the year the lottery prize is won for all installment lottery prize winners. "Federal law" includes statutory law, rulings of courts of competent jurisdiction, and published rulings by the Internal Revenue Service.

2. State law provides that the right to assign lottery proceeds is deemed receipt of income in the year the lottery prize is won for all installment lottery prize winners. "State law" includes statutory law, rulings of courts of competent jurisdiction, and published rulings by the Department of Taxation.

E. An assignee, prospective assignee, lender or prospective lender shall not make any representation in any written or oral communications with a lottery winner that implies that the assignee, prospective assignee, lender or prospective lender is associated with or an agent of the Virginia Lottery. Every prospective assignee or prospective lender shall register with the Virginia Lottery, prior to contracting for any assignment or loan pursuant to this section. The registration shall include (i) the assignee's or lender's standard information packet or materials given or sent to prospective assignees or borrowers, (ii) the assignee's or lender's standard form of agreement, (iii) the assignee's or lender's federal tax identification number, and (iv) where applicable, the assignee's or lender's most recent public financial statement. The Director may deny, suspend or revoke a registration for a violation of this chapter or for such other reason as the Board, by regulation, may establish.

2003, c. 924; 2004, c. 630.

A. The Director shall require all lottery sales agents to deposit to the credit of the Virginia Lottery Fund in banks, designated by the State Treasurer, all moneys received by such agents from the sale of lottery tickets or shares, less any amount paid as prizes or retained as compensation to agents for the sale of the tickets or shares, and to file with the Director, or his designated agents, reports of their receipts, transactions and disbursements pertaining to the sale of lottery tickets in such form and containing such information as he may require. Such deposits and reports shall be submitted at such times and within such intervals as shall be prescribed by rule and regulation of the Department. The Director may arrange for any person, including a bank, to perform such functions, activities or services in connection with the operation of the lottery as he may deem advisable pursuant to this chapter and the rules and regulations of the Department, and such functions, activities and services shall constitute lawful functions, activities and services of the person.

B. The rules and regulations of the Department shall provide for a service charge to the licensed agent if any payor bank dishonors a check or draft tendered for deposit to the credit of the Virginia Lottery Fund by a licensed agent or for an electronic transfer of funds to the Virginia Lottery Fund from the account of a licensed agent for money received from the sale of lottery tickets.

The regulations of the Department shall provide for a service charge and penalty to a licensed agent if any payor bank dishonors a check or draft from the account of a licensed agent tendered for payment of any prize by a licensed agent to any claimant. Any such charge or penalty so collected by the Department shall be used first to reimburse the claimant for any charges or penalties incurred by him as a result of the licensed agent's dishonored check tendered as payment of any prize and the remainder to offset the Department's administrative costs.

C. A licensed agent shall be charged interest as provided in § 58.1-15 on the money that is not timely paid to the Virginia Lottery Fund in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department and shall in addition thereto pay penalties as provided by rules and regulations of the Department.

D. Should the Department refer the debt of any licensed agent to the Attorney General, the Department of Taxation as provided in § 58.1-520 et seq., or any other central collection unit of the Commonwealth, an additional service charge shall be imposed in the amount necessary to cover the administrative costs of the Department and agencies to which such debt is referred.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 5 (§ 8.01-257 et seq.) of Title 8.01, in any action for the collection of a debt owed by any licensed agent to the lottery, venue shall lie in the City of Richmond.

F. All proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets or shares received by a person in the capacity of a sales agent shall constitute a trust fund until deposited into the Virginia Lottery Fund either directly or through the Department's authorized collection representative. Proceeds shall include cash proceeds of the sale of any lottery products, less any amount paid as prizes or retained as compensation to agents for the sale of the tickets or shares. Sales agents shall be personally liable for all proceeds.

G. If the Director determines that the deposit or collection from any sales agent of any moneys or proceeds under this section is or will be jeopardized or will otherwise be delayed, he may adjust either the time or the interval or both for such deposits or collections of any sales agent; require that all such moneys or proceeds shall be kept separate and apart from all other funds and assets and shall not be commingled with any other funds or assets prior to their deposit or collection under this section; and require such other security of any sales agent as he may deem advisable to ensure the timely deposit or collection of moneys or proceeds to the credit of the Virginia Lottery Fund.

Collection of moneys or proceeds "is or will be jeopardized or will otherwise be delayed" when (i) a check, draft, or electronic funds transfer to the credit of the Virginia Lottery Fund is dishonored as described in subsection B; (ii) an independent auditor states that the lottery sales agent's financial condition raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern; or (iii) the lottery sales agent (a) closes for business or fails to maintain normal business hours without reasonable explanation, (b) has a credit record reflecting recent actions which cast doubt as to its creditworthiness, (c) states it has or may have cash flow problems or may be unable to meet its financial obligations, (d) states it may seek the protection of the federal bankruptcy or state insolvency law, (e) refuses to purchase additional lottery tickets or returns tickets ordered without good cause, or (f) does any other act tending to prejudice or to render wholly or partially ineffectual proceedings to collect moneys or proceeds which are or will become due and payable to the Virginia Lottery Fund.

1987, c. 531; 1990, c. 732; 1990, Sp. Sess., c. 1; 2006, c. 598; 2014, c. 225.

A. All moneys received from the sale of lottery tickets or shares, less payment for prizes and compensation of agents as authorized by regulation and any other revenues received under this chapter, shall be placed in a special fund known as the "Virginia Lottery Fund." Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, interest earned from moneys in the Virginia Lottery Fund shall accrue to the benefit of such Fund.

B. The total costs for the operation and administration of the lottery shall be funded from the Virginia Lottery Fund and shall be in such amount as provided in the general appropriation act. Appropriations to the Department during any fiscal year beginning on and after July 1, 1989, exclusive of agent compensation, shall at no time exceed 10 percent of the total annual estimated gross revenues to be generated from lottery sales. However, should it be anticipated at any time by the Director that such operational and administrative costs for a fiscal year will exceed the limitation provided herein, the Director shall immediately report such information to the Board, the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations. From the moneys in the Fund, the Comptroller shall establish a special reserve fund in such amount as shall be provided by regulation of the Department for (i) operation of the lottery, (ii) use if the game's pay-out liabilities exceed its cash on hand, or (iii) enhancement of the prize pool with income derived from lending securities held for payment of prize installments, which lending of securities shall be conducted in accordance with lending programs approved by the Department of the Treasury.

C. The Comptroller shall transfer to the Lottery Proceeds Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4022.1, less the special reserve fund, the audited balances of the Virginia Lottery Fund at the close of each fiscal year. The transfer for each year shall be made in two parts: (i) on or before June 30, the Comptroller shall transfer balances of the Virginia Lottery Fund for the fiscal year, based on an estimate determined by the Virginia Lottery, and (ii) no later than 10 days after receipt of the annual audit report required by § 58.1-4023, the Comptroller shall transfer to the Lottery Proceeds Fund the remaining audited balances of the Virginia Lottery Fund for the fiscal year. If such annual audit discloses that the actual revenue is less than the estimate on which the transfer was based, the State Comptroller shall transfer the difference between the actual revenue and the estimate from the Lottery Proceeds Fund to the Virginia Lottery Fund.

D. In addition to such other funds as may be appropriated, 100 percent of the lottery revenues transferred to the Lottery Proceeds Fund shall be appropriated entirely and solely for the purpose of public education in the Commonwealth unless otherwise redirected pursuant to Article X, Section 7-A of the Constitution of Virginia. The additional appropriation of lottery revenues to local school divisions for public education purposes consistent with this provision shall be used for operating, capital outlay, or debt service expenses, as determined by the appropriation act. The additional appropriation of lottery revenues shall not be used by any local school division to reduce its total local expenditures for public education in accordance with the provisions of the general appropriation act.

E. As a function of the administration of this chapter, funds may be expended for the purposes of reasonably informing the public concerning (i) the facts embraced in the subjects contained in subdivisions A 1 through 7 of § 58.1-4007 and (ii) the fact that the net proceeds are paid into the Lottery Proceeds Fund of the Commonwealth, but no funds shall be expended for the primary purpose of inducing persons to participate in the lottery.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478; 1995, cc. 831, 852; 2002, cc. 829, 866; 2014, c. 225.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Lottery Proceeds Fund, hereafter referred to as the "Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller and interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall consist of amounts deposited into it from the net revenues of any lottery conducted by the Commonwealth pursuant to Article X, Section 7-A of the Constitution of Virginia.

B. For purposes of any appropriation act enacted by the General Assembly and for the purposes of the Comptroller's preliminary and final annual reports required by § 2.2-813, all deposits to and appropriations from the Lottery Proceeds Fund shall be accounted for and considered to be a part of the general fund of the state treasury.

2000, cc. 622, 713; 2002, cc. 829, 866.

A regular post-audit shall be conducted of all accounts and transactions of the Department. An annual audit of a fiscal and compliance nature of the accounts and transactions of the Department shall be conducted by the Auditor of Public Accounts on or before August 15 of each year. The cost of the annual audit and post-audit examinations shall be borne by the Department. The Board may order such other audits as it deems necessary and desirable.

1987, c. 531; 1989, c. 478.

Employees of the Department shall be exempt from the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act, Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2. Personnel actions shall be taken without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or political affiliation.

1987, c. 531; 1994, c. 48; 2020, c. 1137; 2023, cc. 148, 149.

Except as provided in Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 and § 58.1-4011, no state or local taxes of any type whatsoever shall be imposed upon any prize awarded or upon the sale of any lottery ticket sold pursuant to the Virginia Lottery Law.

1987, c. 531; 2014, c. 225.

The Director shall establish by rule and regulation a set-off debt collection program in accordance with the provisions of the Setoff Debt Collection Act, Article 21 (§ 58.1-520 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title, wherein certain prizes shall be subjected to delinquent debts of agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth. The Director shall be responsible for the administration of the program and shall ensure by rule and regulation of the Department that any agency eligible to participate in the Setoff Debt Collection Act, Article 21 (§ 58.1-520 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title, shall be eligible to participate in the lottery prize set-off. The Tax Commissioner shall transmit to the Director, at such intervals as requested by the Director, a listing of claimant agencies and delinquent debts owed thereto.

1987, c. 531.

The action of the Board in (i) granting or denying a license or registration or in suspending or revoking any license or registration under the provisions of this article and (ii) granting, denying, suspending, or revoking any permit or imposing any penalty pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-4030 et seq.) shall be subject to review in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). Such review shall be limited to the evidential record of the proceedings provided by the Board. Both the petitioner and the Board shall have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeals from any order of the court.

1987, c. 531; 2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

Repealed by Acts 2002, c. 3.

Except as provided in subsection B of § 58.1-4019, the Department shall not disclose information about the identity of an individual lottery winner if the value of the prize won by the winner exceeds $10 million, unless the winner consents in writing to such disclosure.

2019, cc. 163, 247.

Article 2. Sports Betting.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Adjusted gross revenue" means gross revenue minus:

1. All cash and the cash value of merchandise paid out as winnings to bettors, and the value of all bonuses or promotions provided to patrons as an incentive to place or as a result of their having placed Internet sports betting wagers;

2. Uncollectible gaming receivables, which shall not exceed two percent, or a different percentage as determined by the Board pursuant to subsection F of § 58.1-4007, of gross revenue minus all cash paid out as winnings to bettors;

3. If the permit holder is a significant infrastructure limited licensee, as defined in § 59.1-365, any funds paid into the horsemen's purse account pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 14 of § 59.1-369; and

4. All excise taxes on sports betting paid pursuant to federal law.

"Amateur sports" means any sports or athletic event that is not professional sports, college sports, Virginia college sports, or youth sports. "Amateur sports" includes domestic, international, and Olympic sports or athletic events. "Amateur sports" does not include charitable gaming, as defined in § 18.2-340.16; fantasy contests, as defined in § 59.1-556; or horse racing, as defined in § 59.1-365.

"College sports" means an athletic event (i) in which at least one participant is a team from a public or private institution of higher education, regardless of where such institution is located, and (ii) that does not include a team from a Virginia public or private institution of higher education.

"Covered persons" means athletes; umpires, referees, and officials; personnel associated with clubs, teams, leagues, and athletic associations; medical professionals and athletic trainers who provide services to athletes and players; and the immediate family members and associates of such persons.

"Gross revenue" means the total of all cash, property, or any other form of remuneration, whether collected or not, received by a permittee from its sports betting operations.

"Major league sports franchise" means a professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, or soccer team that is at the highest-level league of play for its respective sport.

"Motor sports facility" means an outdoor motor sports facility that hosts a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) national touring race.

"Official league data" means statistics, results, outcomes, and other data relating to a professional sports event obtained by a permit holder under an agreement with a sports governing body or with an entity expressly authorized by a sports governing body for determining the outcome of tier 2 bets.

"Permit holder" means a person to which the Director issues a permit pursuant to §§ 58.1-4032 and 58.1-4033.

"Personal biometric data" means any information about an athlete that is derived from his DNA, heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration rate, internal or external body temperature, hormone levels, glucose levels, hydration levels, vitamin levels, bone density, muscle density, or sleep patterns, or other information as may be prescribed by the Board by regulation.

"Principal" means any individual who solely or together with his immediate family members (i) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent or more of the pecuniary interest in any entity that is a permit holder or (ii) has the power to vote or cause the vote of five percent or more of the voting securities or other ownership interests of such entity. "Principal" includes any individual who is employed in a managerial capacity for a sports betting platform or sports betting facility on behalf of a permit holder.

"Professional sports" means an athletic event involving at least two human competitors who receive compensation, in excess of their expenses, for participating in such event. "Professional sports" does not include charitable gaming, as defined in § 18.2-340.16; fantasy contests, as defined in § 59.1-556; or horse racing, as defined in § 59.1-365.

"Prohibited conduct" means any statement, action, or other communication intended to influence, manipulate, or control a betting outcome of a sports event or of any individual occurrence or performance in a sports event in exchange for financial gain or to avoid financial or physical harm. "Prohibited conduct" includes statements, actions, and communications made to a covered person by a third party. "Prohibited conduct" does not include statements, actions, or communications made or sanctioned by a sports team or sports governing body.

"Proposition bet" means a bet on an individual action, statistic, occurrence, or non-occurrence to be determined during an athletic event and includes any such action, statistic, occurrence, or non-occurrence that does not directly affect the final outcome of the athletic event to which it relates.

"Sports betting" means placing wagers on professional sports, college sports, amateur sports, sporting events, or any other event approved by the Director, and any portion thereof, and includes placing wagers related to the individual performance statistics of athletes in such sports and events. "Sports betting" includes any system or method of wagering approved by the Director, including single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, exchange wagering, in-game wagering, in-play bets, proposition bets, and straight bets. "Sports betting" does not include participating in charitable gaming authorized by Article 1.1:1 (§ 18.2-340.15 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2; participating in any lottery game authorized under Article 1 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.); wagering on horse racing authorized by Chapter 29 (§ 59.1-364 et seq.) of Title 59.1; or participating in fantasy contests authorized by Chapter 51 (§ 59.1-556 et seq.) of Title 59.1. "Sports betting" does not include placing a wager on a college sports event in which a Virginia public or private institution of higher education is a participant.

"Sports betting facility" means an area, kiosk, or device located inside a casino gaming establishment licensed pursuant to Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) that is designated for sports betting.

"Sports betting permit" means a permit to operate a sports betting platform or sports betting facility issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 58.1-4032, 58.1-4033, and 58.1-4034.

"Sports betting platform" means a website, app, or other platform accessible via the Internet or mobile, wireless, or similar communications technology that sports bettors use to participate in sports betting.

"Sports betting program" means the program established by the Board to allow sports betting as described in this article.

"Sports bettor" means a person physically located in Virginia who participates in sports betting.

"Sports event" or "sporting event" means professional sports, college sports, amateur sports, and any athletic event, motor race event, electronic sports event, competitive video game event, or any other event approved by the Director.

"Sports governing body" means an organization, headquartered in the United States, that prescribes rules and enforces codes of conduct with respect to a professional sports or college sports event and the participants therein. "Sports governing body" includes a designee of the sports governing body.

"Stadium" means the physical facility that is the primary location at which a major league sports franchise hosts athletic events and any appurtenant facilities.

"Tier 1 bet" means a bet that is placed using the Internet and that is not a tier 2 bet.

"Tier 2 bet" means a bet that is placed using the Internet and that is placed after the event it concerns has started.

"Virginia college sports" means an athletic event in which at least one participant is a team from a Virginia public or private institution of higher education.

"Youth sports" means an athletic event (i) involving a majority of participants under age 18 or (ii) in which at least one participant is a team from a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school, regardless of where such school is located. However, if an athletic event meets the definition of college sports or professional sports, such event shall not be considered youth sports regardless of the age of the participants. An international athletic event organized by the International Olympic Committee shall not be considered to be youth sports, regardless of the age of the participants.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 351, 352.

A. The Department shall operate a sports betting program under the direction of the Director, who shall allow applicants to apply for permits to engage in sports betting operations in the Commonwealth. The Board shall regulate such operations. The Department shall not operate a sports betting platform or a sports betting facility.

B. The Director may:

1. Require bond or other surety satisfactory to the Director from permit holders in such amount as provided in the rules and regulations of the Board adopted under this article;

2. Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any permit issued pursuant to this article or the rules and regulations adopted under this article; and

3. Enter into contracts for the operation of the sports betting program, and enter into contracts with other states related to sports betting, provided that a contract awarded or entered into by the Director shall not be assigned by the holder thereof except by specific approval of the Director.

C. The Director shall:

1. Certify monthly to the State Comptroller and the Board a full and complete statement of sports betting revenues and expenses for the previous month;

2. Report monthly to the Governor, the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, House Committee on Finance, and House Committee on Appropriations the total sports betting revenues and expenses for the previous month and make an annual report, which shall include a full and complete statement of sports betting revenues and expenses, to the Governor and the General Assembly, including recommendations for changes in this article as the Director and Board deem prudent; and

3. Report immediately to the Governor and the General Assembly any matters that require immediate changes in the laws of the Commonwealth in order to prevent abuses and evasions of this article or the rules and regulations adopted under this article or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the sports betting program.

D. In accordance with sports betting program regulations, the Director shall approve methods for sports bettors to fund sports betting accounts, including automated clearing house payments, credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, and any other method that the Board determines is appropriate for sports betting.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 351, 352.

A. An applicant for a sports betting permit shall:

1. Submit an application to the Director, on forms prescribed by the Director, containing the information prescribed in subsection B; and

2. Pay to the Department a nonrefundable fee of $50,000 for each principal at the time of filing to defray the costs associated with the background investigations conducted by 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 article and allocating such costs to the applicants for licensure at the time of filing. The fees for each principal and any additional investigation costs paid to the Department shall be deposited into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

B. An application for a sports betting permit shall include the following information:

1. The applicant's background in sports betting;

2. The applicant's experience in wagering activities in other jurisdictions, including the applicant's history and reputation of integrity and compliance;

3. The applicant's proposed internal controls, including controls to ensure that no prohibited or voluntarily excluded person will be able to participate in sports betting;

4. The applicant's history of working to prevent compulsive gambling, including training programs for its employees;

5. If applicable, any supporting documentation necessary to establish eligibility for substantial and preferred consideration pursuant to the provisions of this section;

6. The applicant's proposed procedures to detect and report suspicious or illegal betting activity; and

7. Any other information the Director deems necessary.

C. The Department shall conduct a background investigation on the applicant. The background investigation shall include a credit history check, a tax record check, and a criminal history records check.

D. 1. The Director shall not issue any permit pursuant to this article until the Board has established a consumer protection program and published a consumer protection bill of rights pursuant to the provisions of subdivision A 14 of § 58.1-4007.

2. The Director shall issue no fewer than four and no more than 12 permits pursuant to this section; however, if an insufficient number of applicants apply for the Director to satisfy the minimum, this provision shall not be interpreted to direct the Director to issue a permit to an unqualified applicant. A permit shall not count toward the minimum or maximum if it (i) is issued pursuant to subdivision 4 or 5 to a major league sports franchise or to the operator of a facility; (ii) is issued pursuant to subdivision 6 to an applicant that operates or intends to operate a casino gaming establishment; or (iii) is revoked, expires, or otherwise becomes not effective.

3. In issuing permits to operate sports betting platforms and sports betting facilities, the Director shall consider the following factors:

a. The contents of the applicant's application as required by subsection B;

b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates past experience, financial viability, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and success with sports betting operations in other states;

c. The extent to which the applicant will be able to meet the duties of a permit holder, as specified in § 58.1-4034;

d. Whether the applicant has demonstrated to the Department that it has made serious, good-faith efforts to solicit and interview a reasonable number of investors that are minority individuals, as defined in § 2.2-1604;

e. The amount of adjusted gross revenue and associated tax revenue that an applicant is expected to generate;

f. The effect of issuing an additional permit on the amount of gross revenue and associated tax revenue generated by all existing permit holders, considered in the aggregate; and

g. Any other factor the Director considers relevant.

4. In issuing permits to operate sports betting platforms prior to July 1, 2025, the Director shall give substantial and preferred consideration to any applicant that is a major league sports franchise headquartered in the Commonwealth that remitted personal state income tax withholdings based on taxable wages in the Commonwealth in excess of $200 million for the 2019 taxable year. Any permit holder granted a permit pursuant to this subdivision shall receive substantial and preferred consideration of its first, second, and third applications for renewal pursuant to the provisions of § 58.1-4033; however, such permit holder shall not receive substantial and preferred consideration of its fourth and subsequent applications for renewal. Any permit granted pursuant to this subdivision shall expire if the permit holder ceases to maintain its headquarters in the Commonwealth.

5. In issuing permits to operate sports betting platforms prior to July 1, 2025, the Director shall give substantial and preferred consideration to any applicant that is a major league sports franchise that plays five or more regular season games per year at a facility in the Commonwealth or that is the operator of a facility in the Commonwealth where a major league sports franchise plays five or more regular season games per year; however, the Director shall give such substantial and preferred consideration only if the applicant (i) is headquartered in the Commonwealth, (ii) has an annualized payroll for taxable wages in the Commonwealth that is in excess of $10 million over the 90-day period prior to the application date, and (iii) the total number of individuals working at the facility in the Commonwealth where the major league sports franchise plays five or more regular season games is in excess of 100.

6. If casino gaming is authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth, then in issuing permits to operate sports betting platforms and sports betting facilities, the Director shall give substantial and preferred consideration to any applicant that (i) has made or intends to 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; (ii) has had its name submitted as a preferred casino gaming operator to the Department by an eligible host city; and (iii) has been certified by the Department to proceed to a local referendum on whether casino gaming will be allowed in the locality in which the applicant intends to operate a casino gaming establishment.

7. In issuing permits to operate sports betting platforms prior to July 1, 2025, the Director shall give substantial and preferred consideration to any applicant that demonstrates in its application (i) a description of any equity interest owned by minority individuals or minority-owned businesses, (ii) a detailed plan to achieve increased minority equity investment, (iii) a description of all efforts made to seek equity investment from minority individuals or minority-owned businesses, or (iv) a plan detailing efforts made to solicit participation of minority individuals or minority-owned businesses in the applicant's purchase of goods and services related to the sports betting platform or to provide assistance to a historically disadvantaged community or historically black colleges and universities located within the Commonwealth. As used in this subdivision, "historically black colleges and universities," "minority individual," and "minority-owned business" mean the same as those terms are defined in § 2.2-1604.

8. In a manner as may be required by Board regulation, any entity that applies pursuant to subdivision 4, 5, 6, or 7 may demonstrate compliance with the requirements of an application, the duties of a permit holder, and any other provision of this article through the use of a partner, subcontractor, or other affiliate of the applicant.

E. The Director shall make a determination on an initial application for a sports betting permit within 90 days of receipt. The Director's action shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4007.

F. The following shall be grounds for denial of a permit or renewal of a permit:

1. The Director reasonably believes the applicant will be unable to satisfy the duties of a permit holder as described in subsection A of § 58.1-4034;

2. The Director reasonably believes that the applicant or its directors lack good character, honesty, or integrity;

3. The Director reasonably believes that the applicant's prior activities, criminal record, reputation, or associations are likely to (i) pose a threat to the public interest, (ii) impede the regulation of sports betting, or (iii) promote unfair or illegal activities in the conduct of sports betting;

4. The applicant or its directors knowingly make a false statement of material fact or deliberately fail to disclose information requested by the Director;

5. The applicant or its directors knowingly fail to comply with the provisions of this article or any requirements of the Director;

6. The applicant or its directors were convicted of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or any criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust within the 10 years prior to the submission date of the permit application;

7. The applicant's license, registration, or permit to conduct a sports betting operation issued by any other jurisdiction has been suspended or revoked;

8. The applicant defaults in payment of any obligation or debt due to the Commonwealth; or

9. The applicant's application is incomplete.

G. The Director shall have the discretion to waive any of the grounds for denial of a permit or renewal of a permit if he determines that denial would limit the number of applicants or permit holders in a manner contrary to the best interests of the Commonwealth.

H. Prior to issuance of a permit, each permit holder shall either (i) be bonded by a surety company entitled to do business in the Commonwealth in such amount and penalty as may be prescribed by the regulations of the Board or (ii) provide other surety, letter of credit, or reserve as may be satisfactory to the Director. Such surety shall be prescribed by Board regulations and shall not exceed a reasonable amount.

I. Any person who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any application pursuant to this article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

J. In addition to the fee required pursuant to subdivision A 2, any applicant to which the Department issues a permit shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $250,000 to the Department prior to the issuance of such permit. Such fees shall be deposited by the Department into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 351, 352; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

A. A permit issued pursuant to § 58.1-4032 shall be valid for three years from the date issued.

B. At least 60 days before the expiration of a permit, the permit holder shall submit a renewal application, on forms prescribed by the Director, with a nonrefundable renewal fee of $200,000. Such fees shall be deposited into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

C. The Director may deny a permit renewal if he finds grounds for denial as described in subsection F of § 58.1-4032. The Director's action shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4007.

D. The Director shall make a determination on an application for a renewal of a sports betting permit within 60 days of receipt. The Director's action shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4007.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

A. A permit holder shall ensure that its sports betting operation takes reasonable measures to:

1. Ensure that only persons physically located in Virginia are able to place bets through its sports betting platform, if applicable;

2. Protect the confidential information of bettors using its sports betting platform or placing bets at its sports betting facility;

3. Prevent betting on events that are prohibited by § 58.1-4039, underage betting as prohibited by § 58.1-4040, and bets by persons who are prohibited from sports betting by § 58.1-4041;

4. Allow persons to restrict themselves from placing bets with the permit holder, including sharing, at the person's request, his request for self-exclusion with the Department for the sole purpose of disseminating the request to other permit holders;

5. Establish procedures to detect suspicious or illegal betting activity, including measures to immediately report such activity to the Department;

6. Provide for the issuance of applicable tax forms to persons who meet the reporting threshold for income from sports betting; and

7. If applicable, allow sports bettors to establish and fund sports betting accounts over the Internet on a sports betting platform, which may be funded through methods including automated clearing house payments, credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, or any other method approved by the Director under § 58.1-4031.

B. A permit holder shall maintain records on:

1. All bets, including the bettor's personal information, the amount and type of bet, the time and location of the bet, and the outcome of the bet; and

2. Suspicious or illegal betting activity.

C. A permit holder shall disclose the records described in subsection B to the Department upon request and shall maintain such records for at least three years after the related sports event occurs.

D. 1. If a sports governing body notifies the Department that real-time information-sharing for bets placed on its sporting events is necessary and desirable, permit holders shall, as soon as is commercially reasonable, share the information required to be retained pursuant to subdivision B 1 of § 58.1-4034 with the sports governing body or its designee with respect to bets on its sporting events. The information shared pursuant to this subsection shall be shared pseudonymously and shall not include personal information associated with any bettor. A permit holder shall not be required to share any information that is required to be kept confidential under federal or Virginia law.

2. A sports governing body shall use information shared pursuant to this subsection only for the purpose of integrity monitoring and shall not use such information for any commercial purpose. A sports governing body shall provide for security measures with respect to such information so as to prevent unauthorized access and distribution.

E. In advertising its sports betting operations, a permit holder shall ensure that its advertisements:

1. Do not target persons under the age of 21;

2. Disclose the identity of the permit holder;

3. Provide information about or links to resources related to gambling addiction; and

4. Are not misleading to a reasonable person.

F. A permit holder shall not sublicense, convey, concede, or otherwise transfer its permit to a third party unless granted approval by the Director. The Director shall charge a nonrefundable fee of $200,000 for a permit transfer. Such fees shall be deposited into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

G. 1. A permit holder may operate its sports betting platform under a brand other than its own but is prohibited from holding itself out to the public as a sports betting operation under more than one brand, and a permit holder shall conspicuously display its utilized brand to sports bettors; however, if a permit holder is a major league sports franchise, it shall not be required to associate the name of its sports betting platform with the name of the major league sports franchise and shall be allowed to hold its sports betting platform out to the public under a separate brand name.

2. A permit holder is prohibited from cooperatively marketing its sports betting platform with any business issued a license pursuant to the provisions of Title 4.1. This prohibition shall not apply to any motor sports facility, major league sports franchise, or operator of a facility issued a permit pursuant to the provisions of subdivision D 4 or D 5 of § 58.1-4032, provided that such motor sports facility, major league sports franchise, or operator of a facility shall be authorized to cooperatively market only on the premises of its stadium. If casino gaming is authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth and a casino gaming operator is licensed by the Department as a permit holder, the prohibition in this subdivision shall not apply to such operator, provided that such operator shall be authorized to cooperatively market only on the premises of its casino gaming establishment. A permit holder shall not be allowed an exemption from the prohibition in this subdivision unless (i) such permit holder complies with any applicable local zoning ordinances and (ii) the local governing body approves by ordinance cooperative marketing with respect to the permit holder's stadium or casino gaming establishment.

H. A permit holder shall not purchase or use any personal biometric data unless the permit holder has received written permission from the athlete's exclusive bargaining representative.

I. Permit holders shall at all times maintain cash reserves in amounts to be established by Board regulation.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

If the Director determines that a permit holder has violated this article, he may, with at least 15 days' notice and a hearing, (i) suspend or revoke the permit holder's permit and (ii) impose a monetary penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation per day of this article. The Department shall enforce civil penalties under this section and shall deposit all collected penalties to the general fund. The Director's action shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4007.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. A permit holder may use any data source for determining the result of a tier 1 bet.

B. A sports governing body may notify the Department that it desires permit holders to use official league data to settle tier 2 bets. A notification under this subsection shall be made according to forms and procedures prescribed by the Director. The Director shall notify each permit holder of the sports governing body's notification within five days after the Department's receipt of the notification. If a sports governing body does not notify the Department of its desire to supply official league data, a permit holder may use any data source for determining the result of a tier 2 bet on a professional sports event of the league governed by the sports governing body.

C. Within 60 days after the Director notifies each permit holder as required under subsection B, permit holders shall use only official league data to determine the results of tier 2 bets on professional sports events of the league governed by the sports governing body, unless any of the following apply:

1. The sports governing body is unable to provide a feed, on commercially reasonable terms, of official league data to determine the results of a tier 2 bets, in which case permit holders may use any data source for determining the results of tier 2 bets until the data feed becomes available on commercially reasonable terms.

2. A permit holder demonstrates to the Department that the sports governing body has not provided or offered to provide a feed of official league data to such permit holder on commercially reasonable terms, according to criteria identified in subsection D.

D. The Director shall consider the following information in determining whether a sports governing body has provided or offered to provide a feed of official league data on commercially reasonable terms:

1. The availability of a sports governing body's official league data for tier 2 bets from more than one authorized source;

2. Market information regarding the purchase, in Virginia and in other states, by permit holders of data from all authorized sources;

3. The nature and quantity of the data, including the quality and complexity of the process used for collecting the data; and

4. Any other information the Director deems relevant.

E. During any time period in which the Director is determining whether official league data is available on commercially reasonable terms pursuant to the provisions of subsections C and D, a permit holder may use any data source for determining the results of any tier 2 bets. The Director shall make a determination under subsections C and D within 120 days after a permit holder notifies the Department that it desires to demonstrate that a sports governing body has not provided or offered to provide a feed of official league data to the permit holder on commercially reasonable terms.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. There shall be imposed a tax of 15 percent on a permit holder's adjusted gross revenue.

B. The tax imposed pursuant to this section is due monthly to the Department, and the permit holder shall remit it on or before the twentieth day of the next succeeding calendar month. If the permit holder's accounting necessitates corrections to a previously remitted tax, the permit holder shall document such corrections when it pays the following month's taxes.

C. If the permit holder's adjusted gross revenue for a month is a negative number, the permit holder may carry over the negative amount to a return filed for a subsequent month and deduct such amount from its tax liability for such month, provided that such amount shall not be carried over and deducted against tax liability in any month that is more than 12 months later than the month in which such amount was accrued.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. The Department shall allocate 2.5 percent of the tax revenue collected pursuant to § 58.1-4037 to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund established pursuant to § 37.2-314.2.

B. The Department shall allocate the remaining 97.5 percent of the tax revenue collected pursuant to § 58.1-4037 to the general fund.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. 1. No person shall place or accept a bet on youth sports.

2. No person shall place or accept a proposition bet on college sports.

3. No person shall place or accept a bet on Virginia college sports.

B. 1. A sports governing body may notify the Department that it desires to restrict, limit, or prohibit sports betting on its sporting events by providing notice in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Director. A sports governing body also may request to restrict the types of bets that may be offered. Notwithstanding § 58.1-4030, for purposes of this section, "sports governing body" includes any organization that is not headquartered in the United States and that otherwise meets the definition of "sports governing body."

2. For any request made pursuant to subdivision 1, the requester shall bear the burden of establishing to the satisfaction of the Director that the relevant betting or other activity poses a significant and unreasonable integrity risk. The Director shall seek input from affected permit holders before making a determination on such request.

3. If the Director denies a request made pursuant to subdivision 1, the Director shall give the requester notice and the right to be heard and offer proof in opposition to such determination in accordance with regulations established by the Board. If the Director grants a request, the Board shall promulgate by regulation such restrictions, limitations, or prohibitions as may be requested.

4. A permit holder shall not offer or take any bets in violation of regulations promulgated by the Board pursuant to this subsection.

C. The prohibitions in subdivisions A 1 and A 3 shall be limited to the single game or match in which a youth sports or Virginia college sports team is a participant. The prohibitions shall not be construed to prohibit betting on other games in a tournament or multigame event in which a youth sports or Virginia college sports team participates, so long as such other games do not have a participant that is a youth sports or Virginia college sports team.

D. Any person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 351, 352.

A. No person shall knowingly accept or redeem a sports bet by, or knowingly offer to accept or redeem a sports bet on behalf of, a person under the age of 21 years.

B. Any person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. The following persons shall be prohibited from sports betting:

1. The Director and any Board member, officer, or employee of the Department;

2. Any permit holder;

3. Any director, officer, owner, or employee of a permit holder and any relative living in the same household as such persons; and

4. Any officer or employee of any entity working directly on a contract with the Department related to sports betting.

B. The persons described in subdivision A 3 shall be prohibited from sports betting only with respect to the related permit holder, but shall not be prohibited from placing sports bets with other permit holders.

C. Any competitor, coach, trainer, employee, or owner of a team in a professional or college sports event, or any referee for a professional or college sports event, shall be prohibited from placing a bet on any event in a league in which such person participates. In determining which persons are prohibited from placing wagers under this subsection, a permit holder shall use publicly available information and any lists of persons that a sports governing body may provide to the Department.

D. Any person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. No person, except for a permit holder authorized pursuant to the provisions of this article, shall make its premises available for placing sports bets using the Internet or advertise that its premises may be used for such purpose.

B. The Director may impose a monetary penalty for each violation of this section. For a person determined to have made its premises available for placing sports bets using the Internet, the penalty shall not exceed $1,000 per day per individual who places a sports bet. For a person determined to have advertised that its premises may be used for such purpose, the penalty shall not exceed $10,000 per violation.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. The Department shall establish a hotline or other method of communication that allows any person to confidentially report information about prohibited conduct to the Board.

B. The Department shall investigate all reasonable allegations of prohibited conduct by a permit holder. The Department shall refer credible allegations of prohibited conduct by any person to the appropriate law-enforcement entity.

C. The Department shall maintain the confidentiality of the identity of any reporting person unless such person authorizes disclosure of his identity or until such time as the allegation of prohibited conduct is referred to law enforcement. If an allegation of prohibited conduct is referred to law enforcement, the Department shall disclose a reporting person's identity only to the applicable law-enforcement agency. The identity of a reporting person shall be excluded from the provisions of § 2.2-3705.7.

D. If the Department receives a complaint of prohibited conduct by an athlete, the Department shall notify the appropriate sports governing body of the athlete to review the complaint.

E. The Department and permit holders shall cooperate with investigations conducted by sports governing bodies or law-enforcement agencies. Such cooperation shall include providing or facilitating the provision of account-level betting information and audio or video files relating to persons placing wagers.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

A. A permit holder shall, as soon as is commercially reasonable, report to the Department any information relating to:

1. Criminal or disciplinary proceedings commenced against the permit holder in connection with its operations in the Commonwealth or in any other jurisdiction;

2. Abnormal betting activity or patterns that may indicate a risk to the integrity of a bet or wager;

3. Any potential breach of a sports governing body's rules and codes of conduct pertaining to sports betting, to the extent that such rules and codes of conduct are provided to and known by the permit holder;

4. Any conduct that may alter the outcome of an athletic event for purposes of financial gain, including match fixing; and

5. Suspicious or illegal wagering activities, including using funds derived from illegal activity to place bets, using bets to conceal or launder funds derived from illegal activity, using agents to place bets, and using false identification to place bets.

B. A permit holder shall, as soon as is commercially practicable, report the information described in subdivisions A 2, 3, and 4 to any sports governing body that may be affected by the activities described in subdivisions A 2, 3, and 4.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

The Board may promulgate rules authorizing permit holders to offset loss and manage risk, directly or with a third party approved by the Director, through the use of a liquidity pool in Virginia or another jurisdiction so long as such permit holder, or an affiliate of such permit holder, is licensed by such jurisdiction to operate a sports betting business. However, a permit holder's use of a liquidity pool shall not eliminate its duty to ensure that it has sufficient funds available to pay bettors.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

All sports betting shall be initiated and received within Virginia unless otherwise permitted by federal law. Consistent with the intent of the United States Congress as expressed in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, 31 U.S.C. § 5361 et seq., the intermediate routing of electronic data relating to lawful intrastate sports betting authorized under this article shall not determine the location in which such bet is initiated and received.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

Except as provided in this article, the provisions of Article 1 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.) shall apply to sports betting under this article. The Board shall promulgate regulations to interpret and clarify the applicability of Article 1 to this article.

2020, cc. 1218, 1256.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Gaming Regulatory Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to offset the Department's costs associated with (i) the conduct of investigations required by § 58.1-4032, 58.1-4043, 58.1-4104, 58.1-4109, 58.1-4116, 58.1-4120, or 58.1-4121 or any other provision of this article or Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) and (ii) the enforcement of regulations promulgated by the Virginia Lottery Board pursuant to subdivisions A 14 and 15 of § 58.1-4007, subdivision 2 of § 58.1-4102, and § 58.1-4103. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director.

2023, cc. 586, 587.

Chapter 41. Casino Gaming.

Article 1. General Provisions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Adjusted gross receipts" means the gross receipts from casino gaming less winnings paid to winners.

"Board" means the Virginia Lottery Board established in the Virginia Lottery Law (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.).

"Casino gaming" or "game" means baccarat, blackjack, twenty-one, poker, craps, dice, slot machines, roulette wheels, Klondike tables, Mah Jongg, electronic table games, hybrid table games, punchboards, faro layouts, numbers tickets, push cards, jar tickets, or pull tabs, or any variation of the aforementioned games, and any other activity that is authorized by the Board as a wagering game or device under this chapter. "Casino gaming" or "game" includes on-premises mobile casino gaming.

"Casino gaming establishment" means the premises, including the entire property located at the address of the licensed casino, upon which lawful casino gaming is authorized and licensed as provided in this chapter. "Casino gaming establishment" does not include a riverboat or similar vessel.

"Casino gaming operator" means any person issued a license by the Board to operate a casino gaming establishment.

"Cheat" means to alter the selection criteria that determine the result of a game or the amount or frequency of payment in a game for the purpose of obtaining an advantage for one or more participants in a game over other participants in a game.

"Counter check" means an interest-free negotiable instrument for a specified amount executed by a player and held by the casino that serves as evidence of the casino gaming patron's obligation to pay the casino and that can be exchanged by the casino gaming patron for the specified amount in chips, tokens, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards.

"Department" means the independent agency responsible for the administration of the Virginia Lottery created in the Virginia Lottery Law (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.).

"Director" means the Director of the Virginia Lottery.

"Eligible host city" means any city described in § 58.1-4107 in which a casino gaming establishment is authorized to be located.

"Entity" means a person that is not a natural person.

"Gaming operation" means the conduct of authorized casino gaming within a casino gaming establishment.

"Gross receipts" means the total amount of money exchanged for the purchase of chips, tokens, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards by casino gaming patrons. "Gross receipts" shall not include the cash value of promotions or credits provided to and exchanged by casino gaming patrons for chips, tokens, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards. "Gross receipts" shall also not include uncollectable counter checks.

"Immediate family" means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person residing in the same household as an officer or employee and who is a dependent of the officer or employee or of whom the officer or employee is a dependent.

"Individual" means a natural person.

"Licensee" or "license holder" means any person holding an operator's license under § 58.1-4111.

"On-premises mobile casino gaming" means casino gaming offered by a casino gaming operator at a casino gaming establishment using a computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet-switched data networks through which the casino gaming operator may offer casino gaming to individuals who have established an on-premises mobile casino gaming account with the casino gaming operator and who are physically present on the premises of the casino gaming establishment, as authorized by regulations promulgated by the Board.

"Permit holder" means any person holding a supplier or service permit pursuant to this chapter.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, stock corporation, or nonstock corporation and includes any person that directly or indirectly controls or is under common control with another person.

"Preferred casino gaming operator" means the proposed casino gaming establishment and operator thereof submitted by an eligible host city to the Board as an applicant for licensure.

"Prepaid access instrument" means a system device that allows a casino gaming patron access to funds that have been paid in advance and can be retrieved or transferred at some point in the future through such a device. In order to transfer funds for gaming purposes, a prepaid access instrument shall be redeemed for tokens, chips, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, electronic cards, or used in conjunction with an approved cashless wagering system or interactive gaming account.

"Principal" means any individual who solely or together with his immediate family members (i) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent or more of the pecuniary interest in any entity that is a licensee or (ii) has the power to vote or cause the vote of five percent or more of the voting securities or other ownership interests of such entity, and any person who manages a gaming operation on behalf of a licensee.

"Professional sports" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-4030.

"Security" has the same meaning as provided in § 13.1-501. If the Board finds that any obligation, stock, or other equity interest creates control of or voice in the management operations of an entity in the manner of a security, then such interest shall be considered a security.

"Sports betting" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-4030.

"Sports betting facility" means an area, kiosk, or device located inside a casino gaming establishment licensed pursuant to this chapter that is designated for sports betting.

"Supplier" means any person that sells or leases, or contracts to sell or lease, any casino gaming equipment, devices, or supplies, or provides any management services, to a licensee.

"Voluntary exclusion program" means a program established by the Board pursuant to § 58.1-4103 that allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from engaging in the activities described in subdivision B 1 of § 58.1-4103 by placing their names on a voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures set forth by the Board.

"Youth sports" means the same as such term is defined in § 58.1-4030.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 7, 351, 352; 2022, cc. 589, 590.

A. Casino gaming shall be licensed and permitted as herein provided to benefit the people of the Commonwealth. The Board is vested with control of all casino gaming in the Commonwealth, with authority to prescribe regulations and conditions under this chapter. The purposes of this chapter are to assist economic development, promote tourism, and provide for the implementation of casino gaming operations of the highest quality, honesty, and integrity and free of any corrupt, incompetent, dishonest, or unprincipled practices.

B. The conduct of casino gaming shall be limited to the qualified locations established in § 58.1-4107. The Board shall be limited to the issuance of a single operator's license for each such qualified location.

C. The conduct of any casino gaming and entrance to such establishment is a privilege that may be granted or denied by the Board or its duly authorized representatives in its discretion in order to effectuate the purposes set forth in this chapter. Any proposed site for a casino gaming establishment shall be privately owned property subject to the local land use and property taxation authority of the eligible host city in which the casino gaming establishment is located.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

The Board shall have the power and duty to:

1. Issue permits and licenses under this chapter and supervise all gaming operations licensed under the provisions of this chapter, including all persons conducting or participating in any gaming operation. The Board shall employ such persons to be present during gaming operations as are necessary to ensure that such gaming operations are conducted with order and the highest degree of integrity.

2. Adopt regulations regarding the conditions under which casino gaming shall be conducted in the Commonwealth and all such other regulations it deems necessary and appropriate to further the purposes of this chapter.

3. Issue an operator's license only to a person who meets the criteria of § 58.1-4107.

4. Issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses before the Board, administer oaths, and compel production of records or other documents and testimony of such witnesses whenever in the judgment of the Board it is necessary to do so for the effectual discharge of its duties.

5. Order such audits as it deems necessary and desirable.

6. Provide for the withholding of the applicable amount of state and federal income tax of persons claiming a prize or payoff for winning a game and establish the thresholds for such withholdings.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. The Board shall adopt regulations to establish and implement a voluntary exclusion program.

B. The regulations shall include the following provisions:

1. Except as provided by regulation of the Board, a person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program agrees to refrain from (i) playing any account-based lottery game authorized under the provisions of this chapter or Chapter 40 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.); (ii) participating in sports betting as such activity is regulated by the Board; (iii) engaging in any form of casino gaming authorized under the provisions of this chapter; (iv) participating in charitable gaming, as defined in § 18.2-340.16; (v) participating in fantasy contests, as defined in § 59.1-556; or (vi) wagering on horse racing, as defined in § 59.1-365. Any state agency, at the request of the Department, shall assist in administering the voluntary exclusion program pursuant to the provisions of this section.

2. A person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program may choose an exclusion period of two years, five years, or lifetime.

3. Except as provided by regulation of the Board, a person who participates in the voluntary exclusion program may not petition the Board for removal from the program for the duration of his exclusion period.

4. The name of a person participating in the program shall be included on a list of excluded persons. The list of persons entering the voluntary exclusion program and the personal information of the participants shall be confidential, with dissemination by the Department limited to lottery sales agents licensed under Chapter 40 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.), owners and operators of casino gaming establishments, and any other parties the Department deems necessary for purposes of enforcement. The list and the personal information of participants in the voluntary exclusion program shall not be subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). In addition, the Board may disseminate the list to other parties upon request by the participant and agreement by the Board.

5. Lottery sales agents and owners and operators of casino gaming establishments shall make all reasonable attempts as determined by the Board to cease all direct marketing efforts to a person participating in the program. The voluntary exclusion program shall not preclude lottery sales agents and owners and operators of casino gaming establishments from seeking the payment of a debt incurred by a person before entering the program. In addition, the owner or operator of a casino gaming establishment may share the names of individuals who self-exclude across its corporate enterprise, including sharing such information with any of its affiliates.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

The Board, in conjunction with an accredited law-enforcement agency, shall conduct a background investigation, including a criminal history records check and fingerprinting, of the following individuals: (i) every individual applying for a license or permit pursuant to this chapter; (ii) every individual who is an officer, director, or principal of a licensee or applicant for a license and every employee of the licensee who conducts gaming operations; (iii) all security personnel of any licensee; and (iv) all permit holders and officers, directors, principals, and employees of permit holders whose duties relate to gaming operations in Virginia. Each such individual shall submit his fingerprints and personal descriptive information to the Central Criminal Records Exchange to be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal records search and to the Department of State Police for a Virginia criminal history records check. The results of the background check and national and state criminal records check shall be returned to the Board.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Any person aggrieved by a refusal of the Department to issue any license or permit, the suspension or revocation of a license or permit, the imposition of a fine, or any other action of the Department may seek review of such action in accordance with Department regulations and Article 3 (§ 2.2-4018 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. Further appeals shall also be in accordance with Article 5 (§ 2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

The Department may apply to the appropriate circuit court for an injunction against any person who has violated or may violate any provision of this chapter or any regulation or final decision of the Department. The order granting or refusing such injunction shall be subject to appeal as in other cases in equity.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 2. Eligible Host City; Certification of Preferred Casino Gaming Operator.

A. The conduct of casino gaming shall be limited to the following eligible host cities:

1. Any city (i) in which at least 40 percent of the assessed value of all real estate in such city is exempt from local property taxation, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018, and (ii) that experienced a population decrease of at least seven percent from 1990 to 2016, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau;

2. Any city that had (i) an annual unemployment rate of at least five percent in 2018, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; (ii) an annual poverty rate of at least 20 percent in 2017, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau; and (iii) a population decrease of at least 20 percent from 1990 to 2016, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau;

3. Any city that (i) had an annual unemployment rate of at least 3.6 percent in 2018, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; (ii) had an annual poverty rate of at least 20 percent in 2017, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau; (iii) experienced a population decrease of at least four percent from 1990 to 2016, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau; and (iv) is located adjacent to a state that has adopted a Border Region Retail Tourism Development District Act;

4. Any city (i) with a population greater than 200,000 according to the 2018 population estimates from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia; (ii) in which at least 24 percent of the assessed value of all real estate in such city is exempt from local property taxation, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018; and (iii) that experienced a population decrease of at least five percent from 1990 to 2016, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau; and

5. Any city (i) with a population greater than 200,000 according to the 2018 population estimates from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia; (ii) in which at least 24 percent of the assessed value of all real estate in such city is exempt from local property taxation, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018; and (iii) that had a poverty rate of at least 24 percent in 2017, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

B. In selecting a preferred casino gaming operator, an eligible host city shall have considered and given substantial weight to factors such as:

1. The potential benefit and prospective revenues of the proposed casino gaming establishment.

2. The total value of the proposed casino gaming establishment.

3. The proposed capital investment and the financial health of the proposer and any proposed development partners.

4. The experience of the proposer and any development partners in the operation of a casino gaming establishment.

5. Security plans for the proposed casino gaming establishment.

6. The economic development value of the proposed casino gaming establishment and the potential for community reinvestment and redevelopment in an area in need of such.

7. Availability of city-owned assets and privately owned assets, such as real property, including where there is only one location practicably available or land under a development agreement between a potential operator and the city, incorporated in the proposal.

8. The best financial interest of the city.

9. The proposer's status as a minority-owned business as defined in § 2.2-1604 or the proposer's commitment to solicit equity investment in the proposed casino gaming establishment from one or more minority-owned businesses and the proposer's commitment to solicit contracts with minority-owned businesses for the purchase of goods and services.

C. The Department shall, upon request of any eligible host city, provide a list of resources that may be of assistance in evaluating the technical merits of any proposal submitted pursuant to this section, provided that selection of the preferred casino gaming operator shall be at the city's sole discretion.

D. The eligible host city described in subdivision A 4 shall provide substantial and preferred consideration to a proposer who is a Virginia Indian tribe recognized in House Joint Resolution No. 54 (1983) and acknowledged by the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior as an Indian tribe within the meaning of federal law that has the authority to conduct gaming activities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under the authority of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.).

E. The eligible host city described in subdivision A 5 may provide preferred consideration to a proposer who is a Virginia Indian tribe recognized in House Joint Resolution No. 54 (1983) and acknowledged by the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior as an Indian tribe within the meaning of federal law that has the authority to conduct gaming activities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under the authority of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.).

F. An eligible host city shall promptly submit its preferred casino gaming operator to the Department for review prior to scheduling the referendum required by § 58.1-4123. An eligible host city shall include with the submission any written or electronic documentation considered as part of the criteria in subsection B, including any memorandums of understanding, incentives, development agreements, land purchase agreements, or local infrastructure agreements. The Department shall conduct a preliminary review of the financial status and ability of the preferred casino gaming operator to operate and properly support ongoing operations in an eligible host city, as well as current casino operations in other states and territories. The Department shall conduct such review within 45 days of receipt of the submission by the eligible host city. An eligible host city and preferred casino gaming operator shall fully cooperate with all necessary requests by the Department in that regard. Upon successful preliminary review, the Department shall certify approval for the eligible host city to proceed to the referendum required by § 58.1-4123. The Department shall develop guidelines establishing procedures and criteria for conducting the preliminary review required by this subsection. Certification by the Department to proceed to referendum shall in no way entitle the preferred casino gaming operator to approval of any application to operate a casino gaming establishment.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

There is hereby established the Regional Improvement Commission (the Commission). The membership of the Commission shall consist of one member appointed by the local governing body of each jurisdiction composing the transportation district created pursuant to the Transportation District Act of 1964 (§ 33.2-1900 et seq.) that includes the eligible host city described in subdivision A 3 of § 58.1-4107. Each member shall be appointed to serve a two-year term. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision B 1 of § 58.1-4125, for a casino gaming establishment located in the eligible host city described in subdivision A 3 of § 58.1-4107, such transfer, otherwise returned to the city where it was collected, shall instead be made to the Commission. The purpose of the Commission shall be to (i) receive disbursements made to it; (ii) establish funding priorities for member localities related to improvements in the areas of education, transportation, and public safety; and (iii) make annual payments divided equally among the jurisdictions to fund the established priorities as determined by the Commission.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

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.

Article 4. Supplier's Permits.

A. The Board may issue a supplier's permit to any person upon application and payment of a nonrefundable application fee set by the Board, a determination by the Board that the applicant is eligible for a supplier's permit, and payment of a $5,000 initial permit fee. A supplier's permit shall be renewed at a fee to be determined by the Department, not to exceed $5,000 per year of licensure. Such fees shall be deposited by the Department into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the criteria for the issuance, duration, and renewal of supplier's permits.

B. The holder of a supplier's permit may sell or lease, or contract to sell or lease, casino gaming equipment and supplies, or provide management services, to any licensee involved in the ownership or management of gaming operations to the extent provided in the permit.

C. Gaming equipment, devices, and supplies shall not be distributed unless such equipment, devices, and supplies conform to standards adopted by the Department.

D. A person is ineligible to receive a supplier's permit if:

1. The person has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth or any other state or of the United States;

2. The person has submitted an application for a license under this chapter that contains false information;

3. The person is a Board member, employee of the Department, or a member of the immediate household of a Board member or Department employee;

4. The person is an entity in which a person described in subdivision 1, 2, or 3 is an officer, director, principal, or managerial employee;

5. The firm or corporation employs a person who participates in the management or operation of casino gaming authorized under this chapter; or

6. A prior permit issued to such person to own or operate casino gaming establishments or supply goods or services to a gaming operation under this chapter or any laws of any other jurisdiction has been revoked.

E. Any person that supplies any casino gaming equipment, devices, or supplies to a licensed gaming operation or manages any operation, including a computerized network, of a casino gaming establishment shall first obtain a supplier's permit. A supplier shall furnish to the Department a list of all management services, equipment, devices, and supplies offered for sale or lease in connection with the games authorized under this chapter. A supplier shall keep books and records for the furnishing of casino gaming equipment, devices, and supplies to gaming operations separate and distinct from any other business that the supplier might operate. A supplier shall file a quarterly return with the Department listing all sales and leases for which a permit is required. A supplier shall permanently affix its name to all its equipment, devices, and supplies for gaming operations. Any supplier's equipment, devices, or supplies that are used by any person in an unauthorized gaming operation shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth.

F. A licensed operator may operate its own equipment, devices, and supplies and may utilize casino gaming equipment, devices, and supplies at such locations as may be approved by the Department for the purpose of training enrollees in a school operated by the licensee to train individuals who desire to become qualified for employment or promotion in gaming operations. The Board may promulgate regulations for the conduct of any such schools.

G. Each holder of an operator's license under this chapter shall file an annual report with the Department listing its inventories of casino gaming equipment, devices, and supplies related to its operations in Virginia.

H. Any person who knowingly makes a false statement on an application for a supplier's permit is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 7; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

The denial of a supplier's permit by the Department shall be final unless appealed under § 58.1-4105. A permit may not be applied for again for a period of five years from the date of denial without the permission of the Department.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 5. Suspension and Revocation of Licenses and Supplier's Permits; Acquisition of Interest in Licensee or Holder of Supplier's Permit.

A. The Director may suspend, revoke, refuse to renew, or assess a civil penalty against the holder of a license or permit in a sum not to exceed $100,000, after notice and a hearing. Such license or permit may, however, be temporarily suspended by the Director without prior notice, pending any prosecution, hearing, or investigation, whether by a third party or by the Director. A license may be suspended, revoked, or refused renewal by the Director for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Failure to comply with, or violation of, any provision of this chapter or any regulation or condition of the Department;

2. Failure to disclose facts during the application process that indicate that such license or permit should not have been issued;

3. Conviction of a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth or any other state or of the United States subsequent to issuance of a license or permit;

4. Failure to file any return or report, to keep any records, or to pay any fees or other charges required by this chapter;

5. Any act of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the integrity of gaming operations;

6. A material change, since issuance of the license or permit, with respect to any matters required to be considered by the Director under this chapter; or

7. Other factors established by Board regulation.

B. Such action by the Director shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4105. Suspension or revocation of a license or permit for any violation shall not preclude criminal liability for such violation.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

The Department shall require any person desiring to become a principal of, or other investor in, any licensee or holder of a supplier's permit to apply to the Board for approval and may demand such information of the applicant as it finds necessary. The Board shall consider such application within 60 days of its receipt, and if in its judgment the acquisition by the applicant would be detrimental to the public interest, to the honesty and integrity of gaming operations, or to its reputation, the application shall be denied. All reasonable costs for review by the Board shall be borne by the applicant.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 6. Service Permits.

No person shall participate in any gaming operation as a casino gaming employee or concessionaire or employee of either or in any other occupation that the Board has determined necessary to regulate in order to ensure the integrity of casino gaming in the Commonwealth unless such person possesses a service permit to perform such occupation issued by the Board. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the criteria for the issuance, duration, and renewal of service permits.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. Any person desiring to obtain a service permit as required by this chapter shall apply on a form prescribed by the Department. The application shall be accompanied by a fee prescribed by the Department. Such fees shall be deposited by the Department into the Gaming Regulatory Fund established pursuant to § 58.1-4048.

B. Any application filed hereunder shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the applicant.

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

A. The Department shall promptly consider any application for a service permit and issue or deny such service permit on the basis of the information in the application and all other information provided, including any investigation it considers appropriate. If an application for a service permit is approved, the Department shall issue a service permit containing such information as the Department considers appropriate.

B. The Department shall deny the application and refuse to issue the service permit, which denial shall be final unless an appeal is taken under § 58.1-4105, if it finds that the issuance of such service permit to such applicant would not be in the best interests of the Commonwealth or would reflect negatively on the honesty and integrity of casino gaming in the Commonwealth or that the applicant:

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

2. Is or has been guilty of any corrupt or fraudulent practice or conduct in connection with gaming operations in the Commonwealth or any other state;

3. Has knowingly failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the regulations promulgated hereunder;

4. Has had a service permit to engage in activity related to casino gaming denied for cause, suspended, or revoked in the Commonwealth or any other state, and such denial, suspension, or revocation is still in effect;

5. Is unqualified to perform the duties required for the service permit sought; or

6. Has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony involving unlawful conduct of wagering, fraudulent use of a gaming credential, unlawful transmission of information, touting, bribery, embezzlement, distribution or possession of drugs, excluding misdemeanor possession of marijuana, or any crime considered by the Department to be detrimental to the honesty and integrity of casino gaming in the Commonwealth.

C. The Department may refuse to issue a service permit if for any reason it determines the granting of such service permit is not consistent with the provisions of this chapter or its responsibilities or any regulations promulgated by any other agency of the Commonwealth.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2022, cc. 589, 590.

A. The Director may suspend, revoke, refuse to renew, or assess a civil penalty against the holder of a service permit in a sum not to exceed $10,000, after notice and a hearing. Such service permit may, however, be temporarily suspended by the Director without prior notice, pending any prosecution, hearing, or investigation, whether by a third party or by the Director. A service permit may be suspended, revoked, or refused renewal by the Director for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Failure to comply with, or violation of, any provision of this chapter or any regulation or condition of the Department;

2. Failure to disclose facts during the application process that indicate that such service permit should not have been issued;

3. Conviction of a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth or any other state or of the United States subsequent to issuance of a service permit;

4. Failure to file any return or report, keep any record, or pay any fees or other charges required by this chapter;

5. Any act of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the integrity of gaming operations;

6. A material change, since issuance of the service permit, with respect to any matters required to be considered by the Director under this chapter; or

7. Other factors established by Department regulation.

B. Actions taken by the Director pursuant to this section shall be final unless appealed in accordance with § 58.1-4105. Suspension or revocation of a service permit for any violation shall not preclude criminal liability for such violation.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 7. Conduct of Casino Gaming.

A. Casino gaming may be conducted by licensed operators, subject to the following:

1. Minimum and maximum wagers on games shall be set by Department regulations.

2. Agents of the Department, the Department of State Police, and the local law-enforcement and fire departments may enter any casino gaming establishment and inspect such facility at any time for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter and other applicable fire prevention and safety laws.

3. Employees of the Department shall have the right to be present in any facilities under the control of the licensee.

4. Gaming equipment, devices, and supplies customarily used in conducting casino gaming shall be purchased or leased only from suppliers holding permits for such purpose under this chapter.

5. Persons licensed under this chapter shall permit no form of wagering on games except as permitted by this chapter.

6. Wagers may be received only from a person present at the licensed casino gaming establishment. No person present at such facility shall place or attempt to place a wager on behalf of another person who is not present at the facility.

7. No person under age 21 shall be permitted to make a wager under this chapter or be present where casino gaming is being conducted. A licensee or permit holder may employ persons between the ages of 18 and 21 for positions in nongaming areas and such employees may traverse the gaming floor, while on duty.

8. No person shall place or accept a wager on youth sports.

9. No licensee or permit holder shall accept postdated checks in payment for participation in any gaming operation. No licensee or permit holder, or any person on the premises of a casino gaming establishment, shall extend lines of credit or accept any credit card or other electronic fund transfer in payment for participation in any gaming operation. A licensee or permit holder may accept prepaid access instruments. In order to transfer funds for gaming purposes, a prepaid access instrument must be redeemed for tokens, chips, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, electronic cards, or used in conjunction with an approved cashless wagering system or interactive gaming account. A licensee or permit holder may issue interest-free counter checks to a player provided (i) the player submits an application and (ii) the licensee or permit holder verifies funds sufficient to cover the face value of the counter check. Such counter checks shall be subject to the tax reporting requirements under state and federal law. Nothing shall preclude a player from making a wire transfer to licensees or permit holders.

B. Casino gaming wagers shall be conducted only with tokens, chips, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards purchased from a licensed casino gaming operator. The conversion of cash to tokens, chips, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards at a slot machine or any other casino game is permissible and does not constitute conducting a wager. Such tokens, chips, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards may be used only for the purpose of (i) making wagers on games, (ii) redeeming for cash or check, or (iii) making a donation to a charitable entity granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, provided that the donated tokens, chips, credits, electronic credits, electronic cash, or electronic cards are redeemed by the same charitable entity accepting the donation. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to sports betting in a sports betting facility, which may be conducted using cash.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 7; 2022, cc. 589, 590.

Article 8. Local Referendum.

A. The Department shall not grant any initial license to operate a gaming operation in an eligible host city until a referendum on the question of whether casino gaming shall be permitted in such city is approved by the voters of such city.

B. The governing body of any city containing an eligible host city shall petition the court, by resolution, asking that a referendum be held on the question of whether casino gaming shall be permitted within the city. The court, by order entered of record in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, shall require the regular election officials of the city to open the polls and take the sense of the voters on the question as herein provided.

C. The clerk of such court of record of such city shall publish notice of such election in a newspaper of general circulation in such city once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to such election.

D. The regular election officers of such city shall open the polls at the various voting places in such city on the date specified in such order and conduct such election in the manner provided by law. The election shall be by ballot, which shall be prepared by the electoral board of the city and on which shall be printed the following question:

"Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in ________________________ (name of city and location) as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No"

In the blank shall be inserted the name of the city in which such election is held and the proposed location of the casino gaming establishment. Any voter desiring to vote "Yes" shall mark in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word "Yes," leaving the square immediately preceding the word "No" unmarked. Any voter desiring to vote "No" shall mark in the square provided for such purpose immediately preceding the word "No," leaving the square immediately preceding the word "Yes" unmarked.

E. The ballots shall be counted, the returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the court ordering such election. Thereupon, such court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of such election and a duly certified copy of such order shall be transmitted to the Department and to the governing body of such city.

F. A subsequent local referendum shall be required if a license has not been granted by the Board within five years of the court order proclaiming the results of the election.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 9. Taxation.

A. A tax on the adjusted gross receipts of each licensed operator received from games authorized under this chapter shall be imposed as follows:

1. On the first $200 million of adjusted gross receipts of an operator each calendar year, a rate of 18 percent.

2. On the adjusted gross receipts of an operator that exceed $200 million but do not exceed $400 million each calendar year, a rate of 23 percent.

3. On the adjusted gross receipts of an operator that exceed $400 million each calendar year, a rate of 30 percent.

B. All tax revenues collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall accrue to the Gaming Proceeds Fund and be allocated as provided in § 58.1-4125.

C. The taxes imposed by this section shall be paid by the licensed operator to the Department no later than the close of the fifth day of each month for the preceding month when the adjusted gross receipts were received and shall be accompanied by forms and returns prescribed by the Board. Revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the Gaming Proceeds Fund to be appropriated as set forth in § 58.1-4125. The Department may suspend or revoke the license of an operator for willful failure to submit the wagering tax payment or the return within the specified time.

D. The tax imposed under this section shall not apply to the receipts of a licensed operator from sports betting, whether such receipts were generated from a sports betting facility or sports betting platform; instead, such receipts shall be taxable under § 58.1-4037.

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

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Gaming Proceeds Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All moneys required to be deposited into the Fund pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund.

B. Revenues from the Fund shall be apportioned by the Comptroller as follows:

1. The following amounts shall be distributed to the city in which they were collected by warrants of the Comptroller drawn on the Treasurer of Virginia on a quarterly basis:

a. An amount equal to a six percent tax on the first $200 million of adjusted gross receipts;

b. An amount equal to a seven percent tax on the adjusted gross receipts that exceed $200 million but do not exceed $400 million; and

c. An amount equal to an eight percent tax on the adjusted gross receipts that exceed $400 million.

2. For any casino gaming establishment operated by a Virginia Indian tribe recognized in House Joint Resolution No. 54 (1983) and acknowledged by the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior as an Indian tribe within the meaning of federal law that has the authority to conduct gaming activities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under the authority of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.), an amount equal to a tax of one percent on the adjusted gross receipts of such establishment shall be deposited in the Virginia Indigenous People's Trust Fund established pursuant to § 2.2-401.01.

3. Eight-tenths of one percent of the Fund shall be deposited in the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund established pursuant to § 37.2-314.2.

4. Two-tenths of one percent of the Fund shall be deposited in the Family and Children's Trust Fund established pursuant to § 63.2-2100.

5. Any remaining revenues not apportioned pursuant to subdivisions 1 through 4 shall be deposited in the School Construction Fund established pursuant to § 22.1-140.1.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 7; 2022, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 8, 9; 2023, cc. 586, 587.

Article 10. Prohibited Acts; Penalties.

A. No person shall:

1. Operate casino gaming where wagering is used or to be used without a license issued by the Department.

2. Operate casino gaming where wagering is permitted other than in the manner specified by this chapter.

3. Offer, promise, or give anything of value or benefit to a person who is connected with a gaming operation, including an officer or employee of a licensed operator or permit holder, pursuant to an agreement or arrangement or with the intent that the promise or thing of value or benefit will influence the actions of the person to whom the offer, promise, or gift was made in order to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a game, or to influence official action of a member of the Board, the Director, a Department employee, or a local governing body.

4. Solicit or knowingly accept a promise of anything of value or benefit while the person is connected with a gaming operation, including an officer or employee of a licensed operator or permit holder, pursuant to an understanding or arrangement or with the intent that the promise or thing of value or benefit will influence the actions of the person to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a game, or to influence official action of a member of the Board, the Director, a Department employee, or a local governing body.

5. Use or possess with the intent to use a device to assist in:

a. Projecting the outcome of a game;

b. Keeping track of the cards played;

c. Analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to a game; or

d. Analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in a game except as permitted by Department regulation.

6. Cheat at gaming.

7. Manufacture, sell, or distribute any card, chip, dice, game, or device that is intended to be used to violate any provision of this chapter.

8. Alter or misrepresent the outcome of a game on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before it is revealed to the players.

9. Place a bet after acquiring knowledge, not available to all players, of the outcome of the game that is the subject of the bet or to aid a person in acquiring the knowledge for the purpose of placing a bet contingent on that outcome.

10. Claim, collect, or take, or attempt to claim, collect, or take, money or anything of value in or from a game, with intent to defraud, without having made a wager contingent on winning the game or claim, collect, or take an amount of money or thing of value of greater value than the amount won.

11. Use counterfeit chips or tokens in a game.

12. Possess any key or device designed for the purpose of opening, entering, or affecting the operation of a game, drop box, or electronic or mechanical device connected with the game or for removing coins, tokens, chips, or other contents of a game. This subdivision does not apply to a casino gaming licensee or employee of a casino gaming licensee acting in furtherance of the employee's employment.

B. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a Class 6 felony. In addition, any person convicted of a violation of subsection A shall be barred for life from gaming operations under the jurisdiction of the Board.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Any person other than the lawful holder thereof who has in his possession any credential, license, or permit issued by the Department, or any person who has in his possession any forged or simulated credential, license, or permit of the Department, and who uses such credential, license, or permit for the purposes of misrepresentation, fraud, or touting, is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Any credential, license, or permit issued by the Department, if used by the holder thereof for a purpose other than identification and in the performance of legitimate duties in a casino gaming establishment, shall be automatically revoked.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. No person shall wager on or conduct any wagering on the outcome of a game pursuant to the provisions of this chapter unless such person is 21 years of age or older. No person shall accept any wager from a person under age 21.

B. No person shall wager on or conduct any wagering on the outcome of a youth sports game. No person shall accept any wager from a person on a youth sports game.

C. Violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. Any person who conspires, confederates, or combines with another, either within or outside the Commonwealth, to commit a felony prohibited by this chapter is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

B. Any person who attempts to commit any act prohibited by this article is guilty of a criminal offense and shall be punished as provided in § 18.2-26, 18.2-27, or 18.2-28, as appropriate.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Any person who conducts a gaming operation without first obtaining a license to do so, or who continues to conduct such games after revocation of his license, in addition to other penalties provided, shall be subject to a civil penalty assessed by the Board equal to the amount of gross receipts derived from wagering on games, whether unauthorized or authorized, conducted on the day, as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all casino gaming equipment, devices, and supplies used in the conduct of unauthorized games. Any civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Article 11. On-Premises Mobile Casino Gaming.

On-premises mobile casino gaming shall be subject to the provisions of, and preempted and superseded by, any applicable federal law.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

On-premises mobile casino gaming is prohibited except when offered by a casino gaming operator to individuals who participate in on-premises mobile casino gaming on the premises of the casino gaming establishment. Any casino gaming operator that offers on-premises mobile casino gaming shall comply with any regulations promulgated by the Board related to on-premises mobile casino gaming.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. A casino gaming operator's primary on-premises mobile casino gaming operation, including facilities, equipment, and personnel who are directly engaged in the conduct of on-premises mobile casino gaming, shall be located within a restricted area on the premises of the casino gaming establishment. Backup equipment used on a temporary basis pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Board to conduct on-premises mobile casino gaming may, with the approval of the Department, be located outside the territorial limits of a casino gaming establishment.

B. Facilities used to conduct and support on-premises mobile casino gaming shall:

1. Be arranged in a manner promoting optimum security;

2. Include a closed circuit visual monitoring system according to specifications approved by the Department, with access on the premises to the system or its signal provided to the Department;

3. Not be designed in any way that might interfere with the ability of the Department to supervise on-premises mobile casino gaming operations; and

4. Comply in all respects with regulations of the Board pertaining thereto.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. A casino gaming operator may offer on-premises mobile casino gaming only to an individual who has established an on-premises mobile casino gaming account and uses such account to place wagers as follows:

1. Any wager shall be placed directly with the casino gaming operator by the account holder;

2. The casino gaming operator shall verify the account holder's physical presence on the premises of the casino gaming establishment; and

3. The account holder shall provide the casino licensee with the correct authentication information for access to the wagering account.

B. A casino gaming operator shall not accept a wager in an amount in excess of funds on deposit in the account of the individual placing the wager.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

All amounts remaining in on-premises mobile casino gaming accounts inactive or dormant for such period and under such conditions as established by regulation by the Board shall be closed. Any funds remaining in the account at such time shall be paid 50 percent to the casino gaming operator and 50 percent to the general fund. Before closing an account pursuant to this section, the casino gaming operator shall attempt to contact the account holder by mail, phone, and electronic mail.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. In order to assist those persons who may have a gambling problem, a casino gaming operator shall:

1. Cause the words "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER," or some comparable language approved by the Department, which language shall include the words "gambling problem" and "call 1-800 GAMBLER," to be displayed prominently at log-on and log-off times to any person visiting or logged onto on-premises mobile casino gaming; and

2. Provide a mechanism by which an account holder may establish the following controls on wagering activity through the wagering account:

a. A limit on the amount of money deposited within a specified period of time and the length of time the account holder will be unable to participate in gaming if the holder reaches the established deposit limit; and

b. A temporary suspension of gaming through the account for any number of hours or days.

B. The casino gaming operator shall not send gaming-related electronic mail to an account holder while gaming through his account is suspended, if the suspension is for at least 72 hours. The casino gaming operator shall provide a mechanism by which an account holder may change these controls, except that, while gaming through the wagering account is suspended, the account holder may not change gaming controls until the suspension expires, but the account holder shall continue to have access to the account and shall be permitted to withdraw funds from the account upon proper application therefor.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Any person who offers on-premises mobile casino gaming in violation of this article or regulations promulgated thereunder is guilty of a Class 6 felony and subject to a fine of not more than $25,000 and, in the case of a person other than a natural person, to a fine of not more than $100,000.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. Any person who knowingly tampers with software, computers, or other equipment used to conduct on-premises mobile casino gaming to alter the odds or the payout of a game or disables the game from operating according to the rules of the game as promulgated by the Board is guilty of a Class 5 felony and subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 and, in the case of a person other than a natural person, to a fine of not more than $200,000.

B. In addition to the penalties provided in subsection A, an employee of the casino gaming operator who violates this section shall have his permit revoked and shall be subject to such further penalty as the Department deems appropriate.

C. In addition to the penalties provided in subsection A, a casino gaming operator that violates this section shall have its license to conduct casino gaming suspended for a period determined by the Department and shall be subject to such further penalty as the Department deems appropriate.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

A. Any person who knowingly offers or allows to be offered any on-premises mobile casino game that has been tampered with in a way that affects the odds or the payout of a game or disables the game from operating according to the rules of the game as promulgated by the Board is guilty of a Class 5 felony and subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 and, in the case of a person other than a natural person, to a fine of not more than $200,000.

B. In addition to the penalties provided in subsection A, an employee of the casino gaming operator who violates this section shall have his permit suspended for a period of not less than 30 days.

C. In addition to the penalties provided in subsection A, a casino gaming operator that violates this section shall have its license to conduct casino gaming suspended for a period of not less than 30 days.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

No person shall make its premises available for on-premises mobile casino gaming or advertise that its premises may be used for such purpose, other than a casino gaming operator that (i) has located all of its equipment used to conduct on-premises mobile casino gaming, including computers, servers, monitoring rooms, and hubs, on the premises of its casino gaming establishment and (ii) that offers on-site mobile casino gaming only to individuals who participate in such gaming on the premises of the casino gaming establishment. Any person that is determined by the Department to have violated the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 per player per day for making its premises available for on-premises mobile casino gaming and of $10,000 per violation for advertising that its premises may be used for such purpose.

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Any gross receipts from on-premises mobile casino gaming shall be included in a casino gaming operator's adjusted gross receipts and subject to taxation pursuant to the provisions of Article 9 (§ 58.1-4124 et seq.).

2020, cc. 1197, 1248.