Senator proposes bill to legalize sports betting in Virginia
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State Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen says his bill to legalize sports betting in Virginia will “recognize the obvious.”
“It is increasingly impossible to prevent people from betting on sports,” said Peterson, a Democrat who represents Fairfax, Falls Church, part of Alexandria, and part of Fairfax County.
Petersen announced in late November that he was filing legislation in the 2019 session to legalize betting on professional sports, excluding college sports. His decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court opinion Murphy v. NCAA May 14, which ruled that the 10th Amendment of the Constitution prohibited Congress from restricting state-licensed sports betting.
Since that decision, six states – including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware in the Mid-Atlantic region – have passed legislation that legalized sports gambling. Other states are considering passing legislation.
“The passage of my legislation, or anything similar, will not save western civilization,” Petersen said.
Sports betting could become part of a bigger entertainment experience. If done right, Petersen said it could get people out in Virginia downtowns, increasing food and drink sales.
The revenues from a tax on vendor profit will be shared with the community college system, Petersen said. He chose community colleges because they are part of a state-run education system available to everyone, he said.
“Revenue from sports betting should stay in Virginia, and I’d like to place an investment in our community colleges to win,” said Petersen, who also said he hopes to see community colleges become free for students.
In the House of Delegates, Del. Mark D. Sickles, a Democrat who represents part of Fairfax County, filed bill H-1638 to legalize betting on professional sports. Sickles has proposed to give the state lottery regulatory oversight of the gambling expansion, according to The Virginia Mercury.
“This legislation provides a framework for an open, transparent and responsible market for legal sports betting,” Sickles said in a statement. “It will protect consumers while generating revenue to allow Virginia to compete for major research projects that create jobs and help to diversify our economy away from over-reliance on federal spending.”
The General Assembly convened Jan. 9.
