Spanberger admin helps consolidated playing company, casts doubt on talent video games, i-gaming in 2026

Virginia’s speedy growth of playing has led to a number of payments hoping to create a singular gaming company to assist regulate the business. And a member of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s cupboard spoke in favor of the hassle, a uncommon transfer from the brand new governor who has saved public feedback on payments to a minimal thus far.

When payments transfer by means of Virginia’s legislature, the governor can and infrequently does ship representatives of their administration to sign help — or disinterest — within the effort. According to these aware of the admin’s workings thus far throughout the 2026 session, a lot of the enter has been saved to payments associated to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s so-called ‘affordability agenda.’

But in a uncommon transfer Tuesday, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier spoke in favor of a House bill that will create one company, a brand new playing fee, to consolidate and regulate the state’s rising playing industries.

“Our patchwork approach is inefficient. It creates gaps in oversight and makes it more difficult to protect consumers, collect reliable data and ensure fair and responsible gameplay,” Frazier told the House commission. “Governor Spanberger is deeply concerned about any discussions of gaming expansion in Virginia without first establishing a single entity with clear authority, consistent standards and strong compliance and enforcement capabilities.”

Fraizer’s feedback come after a Senate version of the playing fee invoice confronted some amendments earlier Tuesday, although the character of these modifications was not but clear. Fraizer, who didn’t communicate in favor of the Senate model, did refer to every chamber’s efforts as “different.”

And what does Fraizer’s feedback imply for talent video games and i-gaming – two types of playing which might be already within the Commonwealth however with debatable authorized standing?

In a textual content message, Delegate Paul Krizek, architect of the gaming fee effort, mentioned “any new gaming ought to wait till we have established a centralized, regulatory body.”

“Nevertheless,” he added. “The legislative process is critical to crafting the best possible outcome.”

Advocates for talent video games aren’t giving up hope but both. Democratic Virginia Beach City Senator Aaron Rouse is carrying a talent video games bill in his chamber; Del. Cliff Hayes has one within the House.

“These bipartisan proposals will implement clear guardrails for the skill game market while reducing the number of illegal slot machines across the Commonwealth,” Rouse mentioned in a press release.