Virginia’s online gambling options are currently limited to scratch tickets, but experts from other states believe there is a way to introduce online casino games in the state.
Laura Burd is one of the experts who could be of assistance to a Virginia initiative.
During the development of Pennsylvania’s online casino policy, she held the position of senior counsel for the Pennsylvania Control Board. Throughout this process, she witnessed the constant movement of rules and regulations, as they bounced from one committee to another.
During the Sept. 21 iDEA Growth Power Lunch Summit webinar titled “The Case for Legal iGaming in Your State,” she mentioned that it is a novel gaming domain encompassing numerous unfamiliar elements for your land-based staff.
Both Executive Director Henry Williams of the Michigan Gaming Control Board and Burd expressed their support for prospective online casino markets to draw inspiration from states that have already implemented online gaming.
Burd stated that there was no necessity to recreate something that already existed. He pointed out that our neighboring state, New Jersey, had successfully introduced and operated iGaming for a few years.
Pennsylvania policymakers conducted a thorough examination of New Jersey policy, benefiting greatly from the assistance provided by the highly cooperative regulators in NJ.
Although I am not physically present in Pennsylvania, I am confident that their staff would be incredibly helpful and willing to assist future jurisdictions.
There may be discernible differences in Virginia, considering that online slots might still be on the horizon due to the casino industry being relatively fresh in the state.
Currently, there are four ongoing casino projects in Virginia, with the possibility of a fifth city also voting to establish one. Additionally, the state provides numerous online options for scratch tickets and lottery games.
Casino rules differ from iGaming
According to Burd, online casino games require distinct audit trails and a comprehensive comprehension of recordkeeping and security.
“The skill set is what sets them apart,” she explained. “The iGaming industry involves numerous technical aspects that are not found in the traditional land-based sector. Therefore, overcoming the challenge lies in understanding these unique elements and effectively regulating them.”
During a webinar, Michigan state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. acknowledged the presence of gambling opponents in his state. However, he noted that societal attitudes have gradually reduced some of this resistance. The crucial factor that led to the successful legalization of online casinos in Michigan was:
- Ensuring that everyone remains at the table.
- and not letting perfection hinder progress.
Hertel stated that a renegotiation of language was required at two o’clock in the morning. In that room, we had the treasury’s lobbyists, my chief of staff, a representative from the governor’s office, and an individual from gaming control.
The following day saw the passing of legislation regarding online casinos.
In my opinion, many people believed that sports gaming would be the driving force behind our revenue growth. However, this assumption turned out to be incorrect. It is actually the iGaming sector that has exceeded our expectations and made a significant leap in our projected revenue.
Virginia online casino games and Virginia Lottery
However, it is not necessarily true that Virginia online casino games would diminish the revenue of the Virginia Lottery.
Similar to Virginia, Michigan also offers online lottery options. Hertel identified online lottery plays as the primary hurdle for online casinos in his state. Nevertheless, with an appropriate tax framework, it is possible to make it work.
Hertel discovered that the online casino game customers in Michigan are distinct from the customers of the Michigan Lottery. Additionally, he emphasized that as one of the pioneers in this field, there were significant concerns and anxieties prevalent during that period.
Despite the pandemic, our iLottery and physical lottery revenues have remained steady, with no decrease observed. In fact, there has actually been an increase in our lottery earnings, possibly due to the current circumstances.
Hertel stated that, in his honest opinion, by the end of the day, the only remaining opponents of the bill were traditional anti-gaming advocates who he believes have lost influence in states like ours.
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