Virginia iGaming Bills Would Allow for 15 Online Casino Platforms

^{Virginia lawmakers will consider two pieces of legislation in  the upcoming session, with the bills looking to allowing up to 15 skins tied to existing casinos. (Photo: Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS/Alamy Live News)}

A Virginia legislator has filed a bill that would authorize online casinos in the state, allowing existing brick-and-mortar casinos to partner with operators for the to launch mobile sites. 

Under SB118, pre-filed on Jan. 5 by Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), each of Virginia's five land-based casinos would be allowed to partner with up to three online operators referred to as “skins." That bill would allow as many as 15 online casino platforms across the state. 

A similar bill, House Bill 161, has also been pre-filed by Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church) this week. The two bills could be taken up in their respective houses during the 2026 legislative session, which begins on Jan. 14. 

Virginia Legislators, Gaming Interests Have Opposed iGaming 

The current HB 161 bill outlines multiple revenue generation streams for the state. To start, each casino must file a notice of intent for each online gambling platform it intends to launch, each of which must be accompanied by a $2 million platform fee. 

Internet gaming operator licenses must also be obtained at a cost of $500,000 up front and $250,000 for each renewal every five years. In addition, the state would also charge a 15% tax rate on all iGaming revenue. 

Previous efforts to advance online gambling legislation in Virginia haven’t gotten far, and have been met with resistance from both historical horse racing and traditional casino operators. However, legislators – and some casino operators – may be more inclined to support a bill that directly ties online gambling to the existing physical casinos in the state. 

Temporary Casinos Growing Virginia's Gaming Industry 

Land-based casino gambling was first authorized in Virginia in 2019. Rivers Casino Portsmouth was the first facility to open in 2023, followed by Hard Rock Casino in Bristol and Caesar’s Virginia in Danville in 2024. A temporary Norfolk Casino opened in November 2025, with a permanent casino set to open in 2027, while Live! Virginia in Petersberg will open its temporary facility later this month. 

Virginia already has some online gambling in the state. After the legalization of sports betting in 2020, the state began offering online sportsbooks to operate in 2021. As of 2026, over a dozen licensed operators offer mobile sports betting in the state.  

However, online casino gaming has been a tougher sell than sports betting, both in Virginia and across the United States. While nearly 40 states now offer at least some amount of online sports betting within their borders, only seven have authorized iGaming casinos. These include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Rhode Island, which became the most recent state to approve online casinos in 2024.