Legislation which would have legalised online casino in Virginia has failed to pass during the state’s legislative session.
Both House Bill 161 and Senate Bill 118 died as this year’s legislative session drew to a close on 14 March.
There had been hopes Virginia could become the ninth US state to approve online casino, with Maine having given the green light to the vertical earlier this year.
In February, Virginia’s Senate initially passed SB 118 with a 19-17 vote, while the House approved HB 161 with a 67-30 vote.
The respective bills would have permitted each of Virginia’s three land-based casinos to partner with a maximum of three online casino operators.
Both bills had set out platform fees of $2m for licensees in addition to an initial $500,000 licensing fee.
The tax rate for operators was set at 20% of their adjusted gross gaming revenue, while the Virginia Lottery Board was assigned as the designated regulator for the online casino market.
However, the bills failed to align on how the tax revenue from online casino would be distributed.
Despite both chambers appointing conferees to try and resolve the issue, the gap could not be bridged before the legislative session ended.
Lawmakers will have to start discussions from scratch should either bill be reintroduced next year.
In response, anti-gambling lobby group the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) praised Virginia lawmakers for their decision to halt the legislation.
NAAiG spokesperson Oliver Barie said: “Virginia lawmakers made the right decision by rejecting online casino gambling.
“This proposal would have placed casino-style gambling on every phone and smart device, creating serious risks for families, workers and local communities. Policymakers demonstrated leadership by putting people before profit.
“We commend the legislators and members of the administration who carefully examined the consequences of this proposal.
“Their decision reflects a thoughtful approach to gaming policy and a commitment to protecting communities, workers and families.”
The post Virginia fails to pass online casino legislation for another year first appeared on EGR Intel.
House Bill 161 and Senate Bill 118 fall at the conference committee hurdle despite moving through both chambers
The post Virginia fails to pass online casino legislation for another year first appeared on EGR Intel.