Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that amends sports betting regulations.

Highlights:

• Establishes in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund known as the “Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund” to support the board in providing counseling and other support services for compulsive and problem gamblers (Pg. 10).

• Defines the “board” as the Virginia Lottery Board (Pg. 11).

• Specifies that the board shall establish a consumer protection program and create a consumer protection bill of rights to include measures to protect sports bettors’ identities, funds and accounts, consumer complaints, and any other consumer protection measure the board determines to be reasonable (Pg. 11-12).

• Authorizes the board to adopt regulations to establish and implement a voluntary exclusion program to refrain individuals from (Pg. 12):

• Playing any account-based lottery game;

• Participating in sports betting;

• Engaging in any form of casino gaming;

• Participating in charitable gaming;

• Participating in fantasy contests.

• Defines “voluntary exclusion program” as a program established by the board that allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from engaging in gambling or gaming activities by placing their name on a voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures of the board (Pg. 11).

• Defines the “Director” as the Director of the Virginia Lottery (Pg. 11).

• Specifies that the department of state treasury shall operate a sports betting program under the direction of the Director, and allow for applicants to apply for permits to engage in sports betting in the state (Pg. 14).

• Requires the Director to certify every month, the statement on sports betting revenues and expenses for the previous month to the board (Pg. 14).

• Defines a “tier 1” bet as a bet placed using the internet and a “tier 2” bet placed using the internet after the event it concerns has started (Pg. 14).

• Defines “sports betting permit” as a permit to operate a sports betting platform and “sports betting platform” as a website, app, or other platform accessible via the internet (Pg. 14).

• Authorizes the director to issue no fewer than 4 permits to major league sports franchises that operate or intend to operate a casino gaming establishment (Pg. 15).

• Authorizes applicants to apply for a sports betting permit, and specifies that they will be required to pay the department a nonrefundable fee of $50,000 in order to be approved (Pg. 15).

• Prohibits betting on youth sports, college sports, and Virginia college sports, but does not prohibit betting on games in a tournament or multi-game 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 (Pg. 19).

• Specifies that violators of the above mentioned provision shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (Pg. 19).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from placing sports bets, and specifies violators that accept or redeem a sports bet on behalf of an individual under the age of 21 shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (Pg. 19).

• Prohibits the following individuals from sports betting (Pg. 19):

• The Director, a Board member, an officer, or an employee of the department;

• Any sports betting permit holder; and

• Any competitor, coach, trainer, employee, or owner of a team in a professional or college sports event.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that amends sports betting regulations.

Highlights:

• Establishes in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund known as the “Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund” to support the board in providing counseling and other support services for compulsive and problem gamblers (Pg. 10).

• Defines the “board” as the Virginia Lottery Board (Pg. 11).

• Specifies that the board shall establish a consumer protection program and create a consumer protection bill of rights to include measures to protect sports bettors’ identities, funds and accounts, consumer complaints, and any other consumer protection measure the board determines to be reasonable (Pg. 11-12).

• Authorizes the board to adopt regulations to establish and implement a voluntary exclusion program to refrain individuals from (Pg. 12):

• Playing any account-based lottery game;

• Participating in sports betting;

• Engaging in any form of casino gaming;

• Participating in charitable gaming;

• Participating in fantasy contests.

• Defines “voluntary exclusion program” as a program established by the board that allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from engaging in gambling or gaming activities by placing their name on a voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures of the board (Pg. 11).

• Defines the “Director” as the Director of the Virginia Lottery (Pg. 11).

• Specifies that the department of state treasury shall operate a sports betting program under the direction of the Director, and allow for applicants to apply for permits to engage in sports betting in the state (Pg. 14).

• Requires the Director to certify every month, the statement on sports betting revenues and expenses for the previous month to the board (Pg. 14).

• Defines a “tier 1” bet as a bet placed using the internet and a “tier 2” bet placed using the internet after the event it concerns has started (Pg. 14).

• Defines “sports betting permit” as a permit to operate a sports betting platform and “sports betting platform” as a website, app, or other platform accessible via the internet (Pg. 14).

• Authorizes the director to issue no fewer than 4 permits to major league sports franchises that operate or intend to operate a casino gaming establishment (Pg. 15).

• Authorizes applicants to apply for a sports betting permit, and specifies that they will be required to pay the department a nonrefundable fee of $50,000 in order to be approved (Pg. 15).

• Prohibits betting on youth sports, college sports, and Virginia college sports, but does not prohibit betting on games in a tournament or multi-game 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 (Pg. 19).

• Specifies that violators of the above mentioned provision shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (Pg. 19).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from placing sports bets, and specifies violators that accept or redeem a sports bet on behalf of an individual under the age of 21 shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (Pg. 19).

• Prohibits the following individuals from sports betting (Pg. 19):

• The Director, a Board member, an officer, or an employee of the department;

• Any sports betting permit holder; and

• Any competitor, coach, trainer, employee, or owner of a team in a professional or college sports event.

Full Bill Text

Signed by Governor Ralph Northam