Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Virginia?

SB 579

Introduced in January 2026, Senate Bill 579 would have classified dual-currency sweepstakes casino operations as illegal gambling under Virginia law. Rather than advancing to a floor vote, the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice approved a substitute version that changed the bill's entire approach.

From a ban to a study

The amended SB 579 no longer seeks an immediate ban. Instead, it directs the Virginia Lottery Board to organize a work group - including industry stakeholders, regulators, and other interested parties - to study the sweepstakes casino industry's legal, economic, and policy implications and recommend next steps to lawmakers. A separate 2026 iGaming bill with provisions that could have affected sweepstakes operators also failed to pass.

Operators can keep running in Virginia while that study is conducted, with lawmakers expected to take up actual regulation, restriction, or prohibition in the 2027 session once the work group reports back.

What this means for you

Sweepstakes casinos are available in Virginia today, and nothing currently in effect restricts them. But this is more of a "paused" status than a settled one - the state is actively studying the industry with an eye toward writing new rules next year, so this is a state worth checking back on before 2027 rolls around.

Compiled from public reporting current as of mid-2026. Laws and legislative study outcomes can change - this is general information, not legal advice. If you have questions about how this applies to your own situation, consult a licensed attorney.