Virginia’s Gaming Commission Faces Uncertain Future Amid Budget Negotiations

Plans to set up a new gaming authority in Virginia have run into unexpected roadblocks leaving the project up in the air. 

Virginia Lawmakers Clash Over Future of Gambling Regulations

Lawmakers first pushed to create the Virginia Gaming Commission (VGC), a regulatory body to keep an eye on the state’s growing gambling industry. However, instead of moving ahead as a separate law, the idea got folded into the state budget raising questions about what will happen next.

Over the last two years, Senator Bryce Reeves and Delegate Paul Krizek have led the charge to create the VGC. They have done in-depth research to map out its organization, rules, and how it will distribute money. This proposed regulatory body’s goal is to keep an eye on Virginia’s expanding gambling industry. At the same time, it aims to make sure people with gambling problems get the help they need.

Even though the bill to set up the commission passed an early legal test, it hit a roadblock this month, reported Radio IQ. Reeves blamed this on political games showing his anger about the decision to push the plan aside. He cautioned that putting off the commission’s start would let unregulated gambling businesses keep running without taxes or checks. He also noted that state groups, like the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDAC), would be stuck waiting for the switch to the new system. Right now, VDAC looks after charity games, including bingo, which was supposed to be under the new agency’s watch.

Lawmakers Use Budget Talks to Keep Virginia Gaming Commission Plan Alive

Even though lawmakers cannot pass the bill to set up the VGC, it has still got a shot in budget talks. The Senate put the VGC’s wording in their budget so now it is a key point of discussion between the House and the Senate. Krizek said that while sneaking policy into the budget is not great, it is a trick lawmakers often use. He pointed out that it would be clear if using the budget to push the VGC was smart after we see if it works out or not.

The gaming commission’s destiny now depends on budget discussions in progress, with its survival tied to lawmakers finding a deal that pleases both houses and gets Governor Glenn Youngkin’s approval. 

In other news, Virginia’s skill games bill put forward by Senator Christie Craig, faces tough opposition from Governor Glenn Youngkin making its success doubtful.

The bill aims to control skill games through the Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act putting taxes, licensing fees, and compliance rules on operators. However, Youngkin, who earlier said no to similar laws, stands firm against making skill games legal.