Senate Delays Decision on Virginia College Sports Betting Bill Until 2025
Virginia’s attempt to extend legalized sports betting to college sports has faced a setback as lawmakers in the Virginia Senate voted unanimously to delay the decision on a bill introduced by Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg.
The bill, submitted on January 4, aimed to permit sports betting on Virginia college events, but it has now been pushed to the 2025 legislative session by the Finance and Appropriations Committee, following its approval by the General Laws and Technology Committee on January 24.
This move follows a historical pattern, as a similar bill proposing the legalization of Virginia college sports betting in 2022 was rejected by the House General Laws Committee in a bipartisan vote of 18 to 4. Despite the legalization of sports betting in Virginia in January 2021, wagering on college sports has remained prohibited, creating an ongoing debate within the state’s legislative circles.
Proponents, led by Senator VanValkenburg, argue that bringing Virginia college sports betting into the legal fold is essential for public safety and market regulation. The belief is that many individuals are already engaged in sports betting on Virginia events through illegal channels or in neighboring states, and legalizing and regulating this activity would allow for better control and monitoring.
However, concerns have been raised by opponents, including Todd Gathje from The Family Foundation, who voiced apprehensions during a subcommittee meeting about potential further legislation allowing betting on youth sports.
Gathje’s concern centers around the uncertainty of how far such legislation could go, raising the possibility of extending betting into high school sports, particularly with the increasing visibility of these events on television.
Senator VanValkenburg responded to these concerns by pointing out that, in the United States, gambling is allowed at universities, but high school gambling remains prohibited. This highlights a key distinction and precedent that, according to proponents, should alleviate worries about the potential expansion of legalized betting into youth sports.
The public response to the proposed bill has been diverse, reflecting a range of opinions on the necessity and impact of extending sports betting to college events.
Additionally, the mention of neighboring states permitting gambling at Virginia universities raises questions about the economic and competitive implications for Virginia if it lags in embracing this form of entertainment and potential revenue generation.
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Understanding the legislative process and timeline leading to the decision to delay the bill is crucial. From its introduction on January 4 to the unanimous vote for continuation to 2025 by the Finance and Appropriations Committee on February 6, the bill underwent thorough scrutiny and discussions within various committees.