# Virginia HB145: Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act. Virginia HB145, Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Paul E. Krizek (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0565)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB145-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB145 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-05 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0565) - Sponsor: Paul E. Krizek (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 15 (394 yes, 138 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 9 ## Summary Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation. Imposes (i) a 10 percent tax on a fantasy contest operator's fantasy contest revenue, with 2.5 percent of the tax revenue being allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund and the remaining 97.5 percent being allocated to the general fund, and (ii) a 2.6 percent fee on a fantasy contests operator's fantasy contest revenue to be utilized by the Virginia Lottery to cover the costs of administration and regulation of fantasy contests in the Commonwealth. The bill also limits the definition of "fantasy contest" and requires fantasy contest operators to apply to the Virginia Lottery for a permit before offering any fantasy contest in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 129. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Qualifying fantasy contests gain legal protection: benefit, low. Fantasy contests that follow the new law are exempt from the specified gambling-law restrictions. Covered contests need at least two players, prizes announced in advance, and skill-based outcomes using accumulated statistics rather than single-event performance. Players cannot compete directly agai… - Dedicated funding supports problem gambling treatment: benefit, low. Required fantasy-contest deposits go into Virginia’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. The fund pays for counseling, support, treatment development, prevention programs, and grants to groups helping people with problem gambling. Money and interest remain in the fund rather than reverting… - Fantasy operators pay new permit fees: cost, low. Fantasy operators pay a nonrefundable $50,000 initial permit application fee, which goes to the problem gambling fund. Renewals cost a nonrefundable $25,000, with the application and payment due at least 60 days before expiration. Renewal fees support administration of the fantasy-contest rules. Ot… - Fantasy operators face fines and suspension: cost, low. After at least 15 days’ notice and a hearing, proven violations can lead to permit suspension, revocation, or monetary penalties. Penalties can reach $1,000 per day per violation, capped at $50,000. Emergency action to protect public health, safety, and welfare allows suspension for up to seven day… - Fantasy operators owe monthly tax and fees: cost, low. Operators pay a 10% tax plus a 2.6% regulatory fee on fantasy revenue tied to Virginia players. Revenue equals entry fees minus player payouts, multiplied by the share tied to players located in Virginia. Both payments are due by the 20th of the next month; tax corrections must be documented with t… - Players can choose lasting gambling bans: mixed, low. The Lottery Board must offer voluntary exclusion from account-based lottery games, regulated sports betting, casino games, and charitable gaming. You can choose a two-year, five-year, or lifetime exclusion. You generally cannot ask to leave early, though Board rules can allow exceptions or removal… - Fantasy records gain privacy but limit access: mixed, low. Audit reports and related documents are confidential, along with application records about operators’ or principal stockholders’ character or financial responsibility. These records are exempt from required disclosure under Virginia’s public records law. Beginning July 1, 2026, Lottery investigatio… - Fantasy operators move to Lottery oversight: mixed, low. The law replaces the former Fantasy Contests Act with Lottery Board oversight, while existing agriculture department rules remain until replacement rules begin. The Board must adopt rules by January 1, 2029, after publishing proposals and allowing 30 days for public comments. The Lottery must accep… - Fantasy players gain safeguards and age limits: mixed, low. Fantasy businesses need three-year permits; the Department must decide initial applications within 60 days and renewals within 30 days. Applicants must disclose ownership, integrity, and operating information, and can operate during review unless ordered to stop. Operators must verify players are a… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Paul E. Krizek (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 87 | 8 | | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 13 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 27 | 13 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 93 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 12 | 3 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 89 | 8 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from General Laws and referred to Appropriations | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (48) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0565) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 565 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB145) (House) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB145ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB145) (House) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (87-Y 8-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB145) (House) - 2026-03-04: House Conferees: Krizek, McClure, Wiley (House) - 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-04: House acceded to request (House) - 2026-03-04: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 93-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Committee substitute printed 26109028D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate Conferees: McPike, Carroll Foy, Reeves (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (89-Y 8-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2026-02-16: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House) - 2026-02-13: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-11: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Review From JLARC (2/9/2026 12:12 pm) (House) - 2026-01-30: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House) - 2026-01-29: Reported from General Laws and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB145) (House) - 2026-01-21: Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming (House) - 2026-01-05: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House) - 2026-01-05: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100034D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218692.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218691.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214226.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214225.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211086.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211083.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211082.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191944.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191943.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082610.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082609.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218692.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218691.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214226.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214225.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211086.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211083.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211082.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191944.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191943.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082610.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082609.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB145-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).