Virginia could make another push to legalize online casino gaming in 2027. Lawmakers spent much of this year’s session debating how a regulated market would work. Recent comments suggest the issue remains on the table.
Sen. Jeremy McPike discussed the future of online casino regulation during a Sept. 18 panel hosted by the iDevelopment and Economic Association (iDEA).
Sen. McPike said lawmakers have to take a practical look at issues such as consumer protection and regulatory oversight when considering whether to introduce regulated iGaming.
Those comments come several months after Virginia lawmakers spent a lot of time trying to create a legal framework for online casinos. They suggest that the issue is still being considered.
The panel also included lawmakers from Massachusetts and Ohio. It focused on how different states are approaching online casino expansion.
Virginia considered two major online casino proposals during the 2026 legislative session.
Senate Bill 118, introduced by Sen. Mamie Locke, would have allowed the Virginia Lottery Board to regulate iGaming. The version passed by the Senate included a $500,000 initial operator licensing fee and a 20% tax on adjusted gross internet gaming revenue.
Lawmakers also worked on House Bill 161, introduced by Del. Marcus Simon. The proposal similarly sought to legalize iGaming through the Virginia Lottery. The Senate passed an amended version on March 4, but the House rejected those changes, and the bill went to a conference committee before failing to pass.
The state budget process also accounted for the possibility of legalization. A proposed amendment included $1 million in each of the next two fiscal years as a placeholder for Virginia Lottery administrative costs related to House Bill 161.
Virginia’s iGaming debate didn’t end when the legislative session was over. The issue received more attention during the summer after campaign contributions from the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) to lawmakers who supported legalization became public.
Back in August, five Republican senators who supported iGaming legislation received $100,000 contributions from the SBA after the session. The contributions added another layer to the iGaming debate as Virginia lawmakers consider whether to revisit legalization in 2027.
There is no finalized 2027 online casino bill yet, so another legalization attempt isn’t guaranteed. However, lawmakers now have two 2026 proposals to build on. Many of the major issues have already been debated, including licensing and taxes.
That means that the next discussion will revolve around lawmakers agreeing on key details instead of how the market would work. In other words, they’ve gotten past one important step; now they just need to fully agree.
McPike’s recent comments show that regulation and consumer safeguards remain part of the conversation. After getting close in 2026, Virginia could once again become one of the states to watch for iGaming legislation in the coming year.
