# Virginia SB129: Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act.

Virginia SB129, Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0566)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB129-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB129
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0566)
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 13 (380 yes, 81 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## 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 HB 145.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More funding for problem-gambling help: benefit, low. Required fantasy contest deposits go into Virginia’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund. This includes initial $50,000 application fees and 2.5% of fantasy contest tax receipts. The fund supports counseling, treatment, prevention, and grants to groups helping people with problem gambling.…
- Lottery takes over fantasy contest rules: benefit, low. Virginia replaces the former Fantasy Contests Act with a new Lottery-run system. Existing regulations stay in force under the agriculture department until the Lottery Board issues replacements, due by January 1, 2029. Operators with valid registrations issued before the law’s effective date can con…
- Fantasy operators pay tax and fees: cost, medium. Operators pay a 10% revenue tax plus a 2.6% regulation fee monthly, by the next month’s 20th day. Revenue equals entry fees minus prizes, multiplied by Virginia players’ share of total entry fees, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent. Operators must document tax corrections with the next month…
- Fantasy rulebreakers face penalties and suspensions: cost, low. The Lottery can investigate, require written statements, subpoena evidence, and seek court orders; fantasy rules also enter state police gaming-enforcement duties. After at least 15 days’ notice and a hearing, operators face permit suspension, revocation, or penalties up to $1,000 per day per viola…
- Fantasy players gain safeguards and limits: mixed, medium. Players must be at least 21, and operators must verify age, support self-exclusion, and disclose and enforce entry limits. Operators, employees, and their household relatives cannot enter the operator’s cash-prize contests; certain team-linked players also face limits. Operators must protect confid…
- Self-exclusion covers fantasy and other gaming: mixed, medium. Virginia’s voluntary exclusion program covers account-based lottery games, sports betting, casinos, charitable gaming, fantasy contests, and horse-racing wagers. People can choose exclusion for two years, five years, or life. Enrolled people agree not to enter fantasy contests unless Lottery Board…
- Fantasy permits public, sensitive records private: mixed, low. The public can inspect fantasy contest permits, with copies costing up to $1 per page. Specified audit, application, and renewal records about operators’ character or financial responsibility remain confidential and exempt from public-records requests. These protections also cover principal stockho…
- Fantasy operators need permits and fees: mixed, low. Fantasy contest operators need Lottery permits lasting three years, with required application information and proof they meet the law’s standards. Nonrefundable fees are $50,000 for initial applications and $25,000 for renewals; renewal applications and fees are due 60 days before expiration. Compl…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 12 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 88 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 91 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 20 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 29 | 10 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (51)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0566) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 566 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129) (Senate)
- 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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB129ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by House (88-Y 7-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-04: House Conferees: Krizek, McClure, Wiley (House)
- 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-04: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-04: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-04: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-04: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-04: Senate Conferees: McPike, Carroll Foy, Reeves (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108503D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-24: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-02-18: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-18: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107645D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming (Senate)
- 2026-01-06: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101978D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218730.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218729.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213779.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213778.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210496.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210493.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210492.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179491.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179490.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178793.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178792.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1140153.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1140152.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082953.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082952.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/1218730.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218729.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213779.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213778.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210496.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210493.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210492.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179491.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179490.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178793.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178792.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1140153.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1140152.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082953.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082952.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB129-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).