Op-Ed: Virginia Took iGaming Seriously This Year — That Matters

This year, something important happened in Virginia.

For the first time, lawmakers engaged in a serious, sustained, and thoughtful debate about legal online casino gaming. And while legislation did not ultimately cross the finish line before the end of the regular session, the progress made should not be measured by that outcome alone.

It should be measured by how far the conversation advanced.

In its first year of real engagement, iGaming legislation moved further than many expected. It received strong bipartisan support, advanced through multiple stages of the legislative process, and was the subject of more than a dozen votes across both chambers. Lawmakers asked tough questions, challenged assumptions, and, most importantly, took the time to understand the issue.

That is how good policy is made.

Educating on reality: A market already exists

While the legislature deliberates, the market is not waiting. Virginians are playing online casino games — just not in a regulated environment. As indicated in recent Rightlander data:

• 1.7 million monthly visits to illegal online casino websites from Virginia
• 1.4 million ads served by illegal online casinos in Virginia
• 20-plus illegal, offshore operators actively taking bets from Virginians

This is not a theoretical issue. Like any marketplace, iGaming reflects a simple economic truth: Where there is demand, supply will follow.

Without action, the illegal market will continue to grow and become more normalized, more accessible, and more deeply embedded in consumer behavior.

The question for Virginia is not whether online gaming will exist. It is whether that activity will take place in a regulated, accountable system.

A better model is taking shape

One of the most encouraging aspects of this year’s legislative effort was how the bills evolved in response to policymaker concerns. From the moment these bills were introduced, they were not static proposals. It was a collaborative process.

And it showed.

Through direct engagement with lawmakers, the legislation was refined in meaningful ways to address key policy priorities. In response to feedback, the bills incorporated some of the most proactive responsible gaming protections proposed anywhere in the country, underscoring a clear commitment to consumer safety. Lawmakers also worked closely with stakeholders to ensure the framework aligned with Virginia’s growing casino industry, including addressing concerns raised by labor representatives. At the same time, the bills were carefully structured to preserve the competitiveness of both casinos and the Virginia Lottery, with safeguards designed to protect existing revenue streams and operations.

Two strong versions of the legislation advanced through the process, earning increasing levels of support at each stage. But differences between the bills, and the timing of the legislative calendar, ultimately means there is more work to be done.

Seeing through the fog

Even in the face of aggressive opposition — and at times, outright mischaracterizations of the regulated market — the House and Senate bill sponsors remained committed to a fact-based discussion. They engaged deeply, asked the right questions, and helped move the conversation forward in meaningful ways.

It is also worth noting that some of the loudest critics of iGaming in Virginia are themselves active participants in digital gaming — whether through their own online wagering products and partnerships in other states or by offering widely available platforms like advance-deposit wagering (gambling on horse races).

While this may not be new information to industry observers, it was not widely understood in Richmond at the outset of the session. By the end, however, that contrast became much clearer to lawmakers, and it did not go unnoticed.

An industry asking for guardrails

At a time when policymakers across the country are grappling with how to regulate digital platforms, from social media to various forms of e-commerce, the regulated gaming industry stands apart.

We are not resisting oversight. We are asking for it before the product is even offered. We want strict age-verification controls, we support ways for consumers to transparently and easily limit their time and their spending, and we advocate for real-time monitoring tools designed to promote healthy play.

No other online industry approaches policymakers asking for this level of built-in consumer protection. That is a powerful distinction and it resonated throughout this year’s debate.

A strong foundation for what comes next

Legislation does not need to pass in its first year to be successful. In many cases, the first year is about education, engagement, and building trust. By that measure, this year was a clear success.

Virginia has never been a state that rushes into complex policy decisions, particularly when it comes to gambling. But it is a state that, when presented with clear facts and a thoughtful approach, gets it right.

The foundation has now been laid for legal iGaming in the Commonwealth. The next step is to build on it.

—

John Pappas is an experienced consultant who has worked with the digital gaming industry for two decades. In his role as state advocacy director for the iDevelopment and Economic Association (iDEA), he works to foster policy discussions around regulated online gaming, helping lawmakers better understand the economic benefits, consumer protections, and technological safeguards that define today’s legal market.