Introduced By
Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) with support from co-patron Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg)
Virginia Gambling Statutes § 18.2-325.Definitions. 'Illegal gambling' means the making, placing or receipt of any bet or wager in the Commonwealth of money or other thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of. Code of Virginia. Virginia Administrative Code ». Aiding or abetting operation of illegal gambling activity. Illegal possession, etc., of gambling device. Forfeiture of money, gambling devices, etc., seized from illegal gambling enterprises. Certain acts not deemed 'consideration' in prosecution under chapter.
Most people who operate illegal gambling enterprises are guilty of a Class 6 felony under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-326. The normal penalties for this offense include 12 to 60 months in prison and $2,500 in criminal fines. On the other hand, Section 18.2-326 does highlight a more severe penalty structure for larger illegal gambling enterprise. Some laws passed during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly session won't take effect right away. A law allowing localities to implement a 5-cent plastic bag tax will take effect on Jan.
Progress
| Introduced | |
✓ | Passed Committee |
| Passed House | |
✓ | Passed Senate |
| Signed by Governor | |
✓ | Became Law |
Virginia Gambling News
Description
Illegal gambling; skill games; exception. Includes the playing or offering for play of any skill game in the definition of 'illegal gambling.' The bill also includes skill games within the definition of 'gambling devices.' The bill defines a 'skill game' as an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash; cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash; merchandise; or anything of value whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. The bill exempts family entertainment centers from the prohibition against the playing or offering of any skill game, provided the prize won or distributed to a player by the skill games offered by such centers is a noncash, merchandise prize or a voucher, billet, ticket, token, or electronic credit redeemable only for a noncash, merchandise prize that also meets certain other requirements. This bill incorporates SB 908 and SB 909 and is identical to HB 881. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/15/2020 | Presented and ordered printed 20105453D |
| 01/15/2020 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
| 01/16/2020 | Impact statement from VCSC (SB971) |
| 01/21/2020 | Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming |
| 01/29/2020 | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (13-Y 1-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/29/2020 | Incorporates SB908 (Norment) |
| 01/29/2020 | Incorporates SB909 (Norment) |
| 01/29/2020 | Committee substitute printed 20106113D-S1 |
| 01/29/2020 | Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations |
| 01/30/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971S1) |
| 02/05/2020 | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 2-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/06/2020 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/07/2020 | Floor substitute printed 20107973D-S2 (Ruff) |
| 02/07/2020 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/10/2020 | Read second time |
| 02/10/2020 | Substitute by Senator Ruff withdrawn 20107973D-S2 |
| 02/10/2020 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 02/10/2020 | Committee substitute agreed to 20106113D-S1 |
| 02/10/2020 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB971S1 |
| 02/11/2020 | Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/14/2020 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/14/2020 | Read first time |
| 02/14/2020 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
| 02/14/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971S2) |
| 02/18/2020 | Reported from General Laws with amendments (17-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/20/2020 | Read second time |
| 02/21/2020 | Read third time |
| 02/21/2020 | Committee amendments agreed to |
| 02/21/2020 | Engrossed by House as amended |
| 02/21/2020 | Passed House with amendments (63-Y 29-N 1-A) |
| 02/21/2020 | VOTE: Passage (63-Y 29-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
| 02/25/2020 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/26/2020 | House amendments rejected by Senate (1-Y 38-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/26/2020 | House insisted on amendments |
| 02/26/2020 | House requested conference committee |
| 02/26/2020 | Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/26/2020 | Conferees appointed by Senate |
| 02/26/2020 | Senators: Howell, McPike, Norment |
| 02/27/2020 | Conferees appointed by House |
| 02/27/2020 | Delegates: Bulova, Carr, Knight |
| 03/05/2020 | C Amended by conference committee |
| 03/05/2020 | Conference report agreed to by House (78-Y 16-N 2-A) |
| 03/05/2020 | VOTE: Adoption (78-Y 16-N 2-A) (see vote tally) |
| 03/07/2020 | Passed by temporarily |
| 03/08/2020 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/08/2020 | Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by Senate (37-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/08/2020 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 12-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/18/2020 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB971ER) |
| 03/18/2020 | Enrolled |
| 03/18/2020 | Signed by President |
| 03/19/2020 | Signed by Speaker |
| 03/20/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971ER) |
| 03/20/2020 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020 |
| 03/20/2020 | G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020 |
| 04/11/2020 | Governor's recommendation received by Senate |
| 04/11/2020 | Governor's substitute printed 20110199D-S3 |
| 04/22/2020 | Amendments specific and severable (36-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 04/22/2020 | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
| 04/22/2020 | House concurred in Governor's recommendation (76-Y 16-N) |
| 04/22/2020 | VOTE: (76-Y 16-N) |
| 04/22/2020 | G Governor's recommendation adopted |
| 04/22/2020 | Reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Reenrolled bill text (SB971ER2) |
| 04/22/2020 | Signed by President as reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Signed by Speaker as reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Enacted, Chapter 1277 (effective - see bill) |
| 04/22/2020 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1277) |
| 05/01/2020 | VOTE: (76-Y 16-N) |
Va Gambling Program
The operator of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity or operation shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any such operator who engages in an illegal gambling operation which (i) has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days or (ii) has gross revenue of $2,000 or more in any single day shall be fined not more than $20,000 and imprisoned not less than one year nor more than ten years.
As used in this section, the term 'gross revenue' means the total amount of illegal gambling transactions handled, dealt with, received by or placed with such operation, as distinguished from any net figure or amount from which deductions are taken, without regard to whether money or any other thing of value actually changes hands.
Va Code Illegal Gambling Rules
Most people who operate illegal gambling enterprises are guilty of a Class 6 felony under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-326. The normal penalties for this offense include 12 to 60 months in prison and $2,500 in criminal fines. On the other hand, Section 18.2-326 does highlight a more severe penalty structure for larger illegal gambling enterprise. Some laws passed during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly session won't take effect right away. A law allowing localities to implement a 5-cent plastic bag tax will take effect on Jan.
Progress
| Introduced | |
✓ | Passed Committee |
| Passed House | |
✓ | Passed Senate |
| Signed by Governor | |
✓ | Became Law |
Virginia Gambling News
Description
Illegal gambling; skill games; exception. Includes the playing or offering for play of any skill game in the definition of 'illegal gambling.' The bill also includes skill games within the definition of 'gambling devices.' The bill defines a 'skill game' as an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash; cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash; merchandise; or anything of value whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. The bill exempts family entertainment centers from the prohibition against the playing or offering of any skill game, provided the prize won or distributed to a player by the skill games offered by such centers is a noncash, merchandise prize or a voucher, billet, ticket, token, or electronic credit redeemable only for a noncash, merchandise prize that also meets certain other requirements. This bill incorporates SB 908 and SB 909 and is identical to HB 881. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/15/2020 | Presented and ordered printed 20105453D |
| 01/15/2020 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
| 01/16/2020 | Impact statement from VCSC (SB971) |
| 01/21/2020 | Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming |
| 01/29/2020 | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (13-Y 1-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/29/2020 | Incorporates SB908 (Norment) |
| 01/29/2020 | Incorporates SB909 (Norment) |
| 01/29/2020 | Committee substitute printed 20106113D-S1 |
| 01/29/2020 | Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations |
| 01/30/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971S1) |
| 02/05/2020 | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 2-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/06/2020 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/07/2020 | Floor substitute printed 20107973D-S2 (Ruff) |
| 02/07/2020 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/10/2020 | Read second time |
| 02/10/2020 | Substitute by Senator Ruff withdrawn 20107973D-S2 |
| 02/10/2020 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 02/10/2020 | Committee substitute agreed to 20106113D-S1 |
| 02/10/2020 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB971S1 |
| 02/11/2020 | Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/14/2020 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/14/2020 | Read first time |
| 02/14/2020 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
| 02/14/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971S2) |
| 02/18/2020 | Reported from General Laws with amendments (17-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/20/2020 | Read second time |
| 02/21/2020 | Read third time |
| 02/21/2020 | Committee amendments agreed to |
| 02/21/2020 | Engrossed by House as amended |
| 02/21/2020 | Passed House with amendments (63-Y 29-N 1-A) |
| 02/21/2020 | VOTE: Passage (63-Y 29-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
| 02/25/2020 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/26/2020 | House amendments rejected by Senate (1-Y 38-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/26/2020 | House insisted on amendments |
| 02/26/2020 | House requested conference committee |
| 02/26/2020 | Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/26/2020 | Conferees appointed by Senate |
| 02/26/2020 | Senators: Howell, McPike, Norment |
| 02/27/2020 | Conferees appointed by House |
| 02/27/2020 | Delegates: Bulova, Carr, Knight |
| 03/05/2020 | C Amended by conference committee |
| 03/05/2020 | Conference report agreed to by House (78-Y 16-N 2-A) |
| 03/05/2020 | VOTE: Adoption (78-Y 16-N 2-A) (see vote tally) |
| 03/07/2020 | Passed by temporarily |
| 03/08/2020 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/08/2020 | Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by Senate (37-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/08/2020 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 12-N) (see vote tally) |
| 03/18/2020 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB971ER) |
| 03/18/2020 | Enrolled |
| 03/18/2020 | Signed by President |
| 03/19/2020 | Signed by Speaker |
| 03/20/2020 | Impact statement from DPB (SB971ER) |
| 03/20/2020 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020 |
| 03/20/2020 | G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020 |
| 04/11/2020 | Governor's recommendation received by Senate |
| 04/11/2020 | Governor's substitute printed 20110199D-S3 |
| 04/22/2020 | Amendments specific and severable (36-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 04/22/2020 | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
| 04/22/2020 | House concurred in Governor's recommendation (76-Y 16-N) |
| 04/22/2020 | VOTE: (76-Y 16-N) |
| 04/22/2020 | G Governor's recommendation adopted |
| 04/22/2020 | Reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Reenrolled bill text (SB971ER2) |
| 04/22/2020 | Signed by President as reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Signed by Speaker as reenrolled |
| 04/22/2020 | Enacted, Chapter 1277 (effective - see bill) |
| 04/22/2020 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1277) |
| 05/01/2020 | VOTE: (76-Y 16-N) |
Va Gambling Program
The operator of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity or operation shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any such operator who engages in an illegal gambling operation which (i) has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days or (ii) has gross revenue of $2,000 or more in any single day shall be fined not more than $20,000 and imprisoned not less than one year nor more than ten years.
As used in this section, the term 'gross revenue' means the total amount of illegal gambling transactions handled, dealt with, received by or placed with such operation, as distinguished from any net figure or amount from which deductions are taken, without regard to whether money or any other thing of value actually changes hands.
Va Code Illegal Gambling Rules
Va Gambling Bill
Code 1950, § 18.1-318.1; 1972, c. 364; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1983, c. 331.
