This Bill Would Regulate Virginia In-State College Betting

• Senate Bill 124 would eliminate the current prohibition on in-state college sports betting.
• The bill must be passed before Virginia’s legislative session ends on March 9.
• Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, the bill’s sponsor, believes most will fear pressure put on Virginia athletes.

RICHMOND, Va. – A newly introduced bill would remove the in-state college betting prohibition in Virginia. Virginia currently doesn’t allow betting on its colleges’ games, but Senate Bill 124 would change that rule.

Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg introduced the Virginia sports betting bill titled VA SB 124 on Jan. 10. The bill would amend the in-state college sports betting prohibition stating that “sports betting does not include placing a wager on a college sports event in which a Virginia public or private institution of higher education is a participant.”

This amendment has raised questions from Virginia legislators, with most voicing concerns with integrity and player safety. Sen. VanValkenburg told the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

“The fear that this is going to corrupt or put pressure on Virginia athletes, that’s already there. We’re already living in that world.”

Virginia Sports Betting Has Barely Changed Since 2021 Launch

Although Virginia launched legal sports betting nearly four years ago, they’ve only changed their sports betting operations once. It was a budget change impacting tax revenue that didn’t require a bill to get done.

Time is another obstacle for VA SB 124, as the bill must be passed before March 9 due to the end of Virginia’s legislative session. Getting the bill passed before the annual March Madness tournament is likely the hopes of most Virginia hoops fans.

The bill would allow Virginia’s legal college basketball sportsbooks to offer betting odds for in-state colleges like the University of Virginia or the Virginia Tech Hokies. As of now, Bovada and other legal betting sites are the only way to safely bet on these teams in Virginia.

News tags: College Basketball | College Football | Schuyler VanVaklenburg | VA SB 124 | Virginia