Virginia Gaming Tip Line Opens

A gaming tip line has recently been set up by the Virginia State Police to function as a hotline for reporting gambling-related crimes.

If customers feel that fair play is not being observed, they have the option to either make a phone call or go online.

• Take a seat at a poker table.
• log onto a sportsbook
• or place a bet at a horse racing venue.

On Monday, Col. Gary T. Settle, the superintendent of the Virginia State Police, announced that although winning hands are not guaranteed at Virginia casinos, the gaming tip line is there to prevent any unfair advantage.

He stated that Virginians should stay informed and understand that if they decide to engage in gaming activities, those programs must adhere to regulations and operate in compliance with Virginia law.

Settle further emphasized that the tip line’s purpose is to safeguard consumers and prevent Virginia from falling victim to exploitation.

Furthermore, the gaming tip line fulfills the specifications outlined in Virginia Code 52-54. This legislation establishes a Gaming Enforcement Coordinator role within the Virginia State Police, tasked with coordinating various agencies, such as:

• federal law enforcement,
• Virginia State Police,
• VDACS, which stands for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
• all state law enforcement agencies except for one
• local law enforcement and
• Commonwealth Attorneys.

According to the American Gaming Association, the gaming industry is regarded as one of the most heavily regulated sectors in the nation. However, when addressing the U.S. Department of Justice, the AGA stated:

Regrettably, an increasing number of companies are involved in the design, production, sale, or operation of machines that imitate regulated gambling devices while evading compliance with state and federal regulations.

How to use the Virginia gaming tip line

The gaming tip line can be utilized for reporting any criminal infractions regarding gaming laws pertaining to:

• Virginia lottery games
• sports betting
• casino gaming
• fantasy contests
• horse racing and/or pari-mutuel betting.

If you have any information regarding unlawful activity, feel free to contact our new toll-free tip line at 1-833-889-2300 or report it online. State police investigators are committed to investigating illegal gaming conducted in person, online gaming fraud, and illegal betting practices on various social media platforms. We encourage anonymous tips to help us in our efforts.

If you have any general complaints regarding charitable gaming, please report them to VDACS at 804-371-0498.

More protections could be on the way

A Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee could soon become a reality thanks to the joint efforts of Virginia state Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) and Del. Paul Krizek (D-Mount Vernon). They have introduced matching bills, HB1465 and SB 836, to establish this committee.

In a Dec. 27 announcement, Reeves emphasized the need to acknowledge the negative consequences associated with the expansion of gaming as Virginia progresses in this direction.

“We are prioritizing our efforts towards Virginians facing gambling addiction, with Delegate Krizek and I enthusiastically unveiling our bipartisan initiative. Our goal is to ensure that the gaming regulations in our Commonwealth accurately allocate the essential funds for problem identification, education on gambling addiction, and treatment.”

Lawmakers in Virginia are seeking to rename the Substance Abuse Services Council as the Virginia Addiction Recovery Council through SB 824. While Virginia already has a council dedicated to substance abuse, the term “substance” does not encompass gambling. In addition to the name change, the bill proposes expanding the council’s membership from 29 to 32. This includes the addition of two members representing the problem gambling recovery community and one member representing the Opioid Task Force.