VirginiaHB2182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Casino gaming; consideration of service permit application.

Sponsored By: Delores L. McQuinn (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Casino gaming; consideration of service permit application. Provides that the Virginia Lottery (the Department) may only consider the criminal record information of an applicant for a service permit for the eight years immediately preceding the date of the application. The bill also directs the Department to issue or deny any service permit within 30 business days of receipt; requires service permits to be renewed by the Virginia Lottery Board every 10 years; requires service permit application forms to include additional space for an applicant to include a written narrative detailing important facts regarding his application; and makes the service permit application fee refundable.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Penalties and suspensions for permit holders

The Director can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit, or fine up to $10,000, after notice and a hearing. With Board approval, the Director can temporarily suspend a permit without prior notice while a case is pending. Reasons include breaking rules or permit conditions; hiding disqualifying facts; a felony after issuance; not filing required reports or paying fees; fraud; or big changes since the permit issued. The Department may act for other factors set by regulation.

Stricter rules to deny permits

The Department denies a permit if it is not in the Commonwealth’s best interests or would harm gaming honesty and integrity. It also denies for lying or hiding facts, fraud in gaming, major rule breaks, or being unqualified. It denies if you had a permit denied, suspended, or revoked in any state within the past three years and it is still in effect. It may deny for certain crimes tied to wagering or gaming within eight years if you did not include the required narrative. Simple marijuana possession misdemeanors do not count. The Department may also refuse a permit if issuing it conflicts with this chapter or other state regulations.

Casino workers must hold service permits

If you work in casino gaming, you must have a service permit from the Board. This includes casino employees and concessionaires. Most permits renew every 10 years. Workers age 18 to 21 can get a special permit for nongaming jobs that cross the gaming floor while on duty, and it must be renewed each year.

Casino permit applications: fees and 30-day decisions

To apply, you must pay a refundable fee and sign under oath. The form asks for a written narrative on past charges, convictions, bad acts, and any steps you took to make amends. You may add character references. The Department must approve or deny within 30 business days, and missing the narrative can be a reason to deny. If denied, the Department must tell you—and anyone who paid for you—why, and it can refund all or part of the fee, including within 30 days after an appealed denial.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Delores L. McQuinn

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 424 • No: 4

House vote 3/6/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 95 • No: 2

Senate vote 3/4/2026

General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 37 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 13 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 2/4/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote 2/4/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Reported from General Laws

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/27/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0578)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 578 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB218)

    3/13/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB218ER)

    3/13/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/13/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute (37-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  19. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB218)

    2/20/2026House
  20. Committee substitute printed 26108145D-S1

    2/19/2026Senate
  21. Senate committee offered

    2/18/2026Senate
  22. Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)

    2/18/2026Senate
  23. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    2/5/2026Senate
  24. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/5/2026Senate
  25. Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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