It is highly likely that Virginia public schools will soon implement gambling awareness education.
HB 1108 was passed last week by the Senate with a unanimous 39-0 vote. The House of Delegates had previously passed the proposal with a significant 97-3 margin last month.
Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, has proposed a bill that aims to incorporate problem gambling education into the curriculum. This addition would involve teaching students about the risks and consequences of gambling, similar to the existing lessons on addiction related to alcohol and drug use.
Data from the National Center for Responsible Gaming reveals that a significantly higher percentage of young individuals, around 7%, become problem gamblers, whereas only 1% of adults fall into this category. Additionally, the study suggests that up to 14% of children display behavior that raises concerns about the potential development of a gambling addiction.
Concerned about the kids, Rasoul expressed his worries to The Roanoke Times, like with most controversial topics.
Some parents came to me, expressing concerns about our youth who have been facing significant challenges with gambling addiction. In particular, they pointed out the rapid growth of online gambling, which has made it exceedingly effortless for this issue to arise.
Furthermore, Rasoul expressed his belief that children constituted the “most rapidly expanding group of emerging gamblers.”
Gambling awareness education comes after vast gambling expansion
Prior to the 2020 election season, Old Dominion prohibited almost all types of gambling. The only exception was the state lottery, until voters authorized casino and sports betting 16 months ago.
However, Virginians successfully voted for ballot initiatives that introduced sports betting and five Las Vegas-style casinos to their state.
The construction of the casinos is currently underway and is expected to be completed within the next 12-24 months. Following their completion, these casinos will introduce the brick-and-mortar sports betting market.
In contrast, regulators swiftly introduced online sports betting as they promptly issued licenses and operators began accepting bets by January 2021.
Virginia quickly became one of the largest markets in the country by prioritizing the launch of its online sports betting operation over retail. In just the first year, Virginia sportsbooks successfully managed an impressive $3.2 billion worth of sports bets.
Rasoul became concerned about the children of his state due to the explosive growth and their access to the internet.
Still some anti-gambling sentiment amid growth
There is no denying the evident growth of sports betting in Virginia. However, it seems that a significant portion of the population is inclined towards restricting its extent.
Initially, we have the Richmond casino controversy, where the legislature identified five financially struggling cities as potential locations for a casino. Furthermore, the residents of these cities would hold the ultimate decision-making power regarding the establishment of a casino in their respective communities.
In 2020, the residents of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Danville, and Bristol all cast their votes in favor of the issue, ensuring the establishment of four casino locations in Virginia. However, Richmond made the decision to postpone the vote for one year.
In November of last year, the inhabitants of the state’s capital decided not to welcome a casino into their community. Since that time, the legislature has engaged in a continuous debate regarding the possible location for the fifth casino.
In addition to the controversies in Richmond, Senator Tommy Norment, a Republican from James City, proposed a bill that aims to prohibit gaming operators from using the slogan “Virginia is for Bettors.” Similar to Rasoul’s legislation, it successfully cleared both chambers and now awaits Governor Glenn Youngkin’s approval in order to be enacted as a law.
It remains unclear if Youngkin plans to sign either of the laws into effect. However, considering the significant backing for Rasoul’s proposals, it is probable that Youngkin’s name will appear as a signatory at the bottom.
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