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SB129Introduced in the Senate

Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act.

Passed

Introduced by Adam Ebbin, District 39

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0566)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

7 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A) · March 13, 2026

26

Yes

12

No

2

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101978D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  3. Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129)

  5. Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  6. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A)

  7. Committee substitute printed 26107645D-S1

  8. Rules suspended

  9. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  10. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  11. Read second time

  12. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  14. Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)

  15. Placed on Calendar

  16. Read first time

  17. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129)

  19. House committee offered

  20. Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 0-N)

  21. Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

  22. Committee substitute printed 26108503D-H1

  23. Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129)

  25. Read second time

  26. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  27. Read third time

  28. committee substitute agreed to

  29. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  30. Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A)

  31. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  32. House insisted on substitute

  33. House requested conference committee

  34. Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  35. Conferees appointed by Senate

  36. Senate Conferees: McPike, Carroll Foy, Reeves

  37. Conferees appointed by House

  38. House Conferees: Krizek, McClure, Wiley

  39. Conference Report released

  40. Conference report agreed to by House (88-Y 7-N 0-A)

  41. Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A)

  42. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129)

  43. Enrolled

  44. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB129ER)

  45. Signed by President

  46. Signed by Speaker

  47. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  48. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  49. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB129)

  50. Approved by Governor-Chapter 566 (effective 7/1/2026)

  51. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0566)

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