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2020 SESSION
SB 971 Illegal gambling; definitions, skill games.
Introduced by: Janet D. Howell | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)
Illegal gambling; skill games; exception. Includes the playing or offering for play of any skill game in the definition of "illegal gambling." The bill also includes skill games within the definition of "gambling devices." The bill defines a "skill game" as an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash; cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash; merchandise; or anything of value whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. The bill exempts family entertainment centers from the prohibition against the playing or offering of any skill game, provided the prize won or distributed to a player by the skill games offered by such centers is a noncash, merchandise prize or a voucher, billet, ticket, token, or electronic credit redeemable only for a noncash, merchandise prize that also meets certain other requirements.
The provisions related to the prohibition of skill games have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021. The bill provides for a one-year phase-out of currently existing skill games. Each distributor, defined as a person who distributes skill games to Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) licensees and truck stops, would pay a monthly tax of $1,200 for each skill game provided for play during the previous month. Revenues would accrue two percent to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, two percent to the ABC for administering the bill's provisions, 12 percent to localities in which the skill games are located, and 84 percent to the COVID-19 Relief Fund, created by the bill. The COVID-19 Relief Fund would be used by the Governor solely for the purposes of responding to the Commonwealth's needs related to the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 pandemic.
Distributors would be required to report monthly to the ABC the number of skill games provided for play. Distributors would be prohibited from increasing the number of machines above the number provided for play as of July 1, 2020 and would be prohibited from operating new skill games. Distributors would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $50,000 for violations the provisions of the bill.
The remaining provisions of the bill, which prohibit skill games, would become effective on July 1, 2021. This bill is identical to HB 881.
FULL TEXT
- 01/15/20 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 20105453D pdf | impact statement
- 01/29/20 Senate: Committee substitute printed 20106113D-S1 pdf | impact statement
- 02/07/20 Senate: Floor substitute printed 20107973D-S2 (Ruff) pdf | impact statement
- 03/18/20 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB971ER) pdf | impact statement
- 04/11/20 Senate: Governor's substitute printed 20110199D-S3 pdf
- 04/22/20 Senate: Reenrolled bill text (SB971ER2) pdf
- 04/22/20 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1277) pdf
AMENDMENTS
HISTORY
- 01/15/20 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 20105453D
- 01/15/20 Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
- 01/21/20 Senate: Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming
- 01/29/20 Senate: Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (13-Y 1-N)
- 01/29/20 Senate: Incorporates SB908 (Norment)
- 01/29/20 Senate: Incorporates SB909 (Norment)
- 01/29/20 Senate: Committee substitute printed 20106113D-S1
- 01/29/20 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/05/20 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 2-N)
- 02/06/20 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
- 02/07/20 Senate: Floor substitute printed 20107973D-S2 (Ruff)
- 02/07/20 Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/10/20 Senate: Read second time
- 02/10/20 Senate: Substitute by Senator Ruff withdrawn 20107973D-S2
- 02/10/20 Senate: Reading of substitute waived
- 02/10/20 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 20106113D-S1
- 02/10/20 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB971S1
- 02/11/20 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N)
- 02/14/20 House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/14/20 House: Read first time
- 02/14/20 House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
- 02/18/20 House: Reported from General Laws with amendments (17-Y 4-N)
- 02/20/20 House: Read second time
- 02/21/20 House: Read third time
- 02/21/20 House: Committee amendments agreed to
- 02/21/20 House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 02/21/20 House: Passed House with amendments (63-Y 29-N 1-A)
- 02/21/20 House: VOTE: Passage (63-Y 29-N 1-A)
- 02/25/20 Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/26/20 Senate: House amendments rejected by Senate (1-Y 38-N)
- 02/26/20 House: House insisted on amendments
- 02/26/20 House: House requested conference committee
- 02/26/20 Senate: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N)
- 02/26/20 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 02/26/20 Senate: Senators: Howell, McPike, Norment
- 02/27/20 House: Conferees appointed by House
- 02/27/20 House: Delegates: Bulova, Carr, Knight
- 03/05/20 Conference: Amended by conference committee
- 03/05/20 House: Conference report agreed to by House (78-Y 16-N 2-A)
- 03/05/20 House: VOTE: Adoption (78-Y 16-N 2-A)
- 03/07/20 Senate: Passed by temporarily
- 03/08/20 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N)
- 03/08/20 Senate: Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by Senate (37-Y 0-N)
- 03/08/20 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 12-N)
- 03/18/20 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB971ER)
- 03/18/20 Senate: Enrolled
- 03/18/20 Senate: Signed by President
- 03/19/20 House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/20/20 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
- 03/20/20 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
- 04/11/20 Senate: Governor's recommendation received by Senate
- 04/11/20 Senate: Governor's substitute printed 20110199D-S3
- 04/22/20 Senate: Amendments specific and severable (36-Y 4-N)
- 04/22/20 Senate: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (32-Y 8-N)
- 04/22/20 House: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (76-Y 16-N)
- 04/22/20 House: VOTE: (76-Y 16-N)
- 04/22/20 Governor: Governor's recommendation adopted
- 04/22/20 Senate: Reenrolled
- 04/22/20 Senate: Reenrolled bill text (SB971ER2)
- 04/22/20 Senate: Signed by President as reenrolled
- 04/22/20 House: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
- 04/22/20 House: Enacted, Chapter 1277 (effective - see bill)
- 04/22/20 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1277)