A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-340.16, 18.2-340.19, 18.2-340.23, and 18.2-340.33 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-340.28:3, relating to charitable gaming; conduct of athletic event drawings.
HB791 would expand Virginia’s charitable gaming laws to expressly authorize a new form of fundraising called an “athletic event drawing,” which is essentially a 50/50-style drawing held at a home game or team event for certain athletic teams, including professional teams, affiliated nonprofit organizations, and in some cases institutions of higher education. The bill defines the organizations that may participate, sets rules for ticket sales, age limits, where drawings may be conducted, how winners are selected, how prizes are split, and how unclaimed prizes must be handled. It also allows these drawings to be conducted with mechanical or electronic devices under Department regulations.
In addition to creating the new drawing category, the bill revises several existing charitable gaming provisions. It updates definitions, directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt regulations covering athletic event drawings and other gaming activities, and adjusts rules for fees, reporting, recordkeeping, permitted expenses, and prize limits. It also clarifies that certain nonprofit organizations and volunteer fire or EMS entities may be exempt from some application and audit fees, while still remaining subject to other charitable gaming requirements.
HB791 would amend multiple sections of the charitable gaming article in Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia and add a new section, § 18.2-340.28:3, creating a statutory framework for athletic event drawings. The bill would affect the regulatory authority of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by requiring it to set rules for permitting, ticket sales, prize allocation, recordkeeping, audits, and the use of mechanical or electronic devices for these drawings. It would also modify existing provisions governing charitable gaming definitions, exempt organizations, fee obligations, and prohibited practices, thereby expanding the types of fundraising activities that qualifying nonprofits and athletic-related organizations may conduct under state law.
The bill appears to have been generally favorable to charitable and athletic nonprofit fundraising interests, as reflected in its introduction and the detailed effort to create a regulated new fundraising mechanism. However, the final House vote shows it was defeated 29-65, indicating substantial opposition in the chamber. The absence of committee transcript excerpts limits insight into debate, but the vote outcome suggests the proposal did not command broad bipartisan support.
The likely points of contention were the expansion of gambling-like charitable gaming into athletic venues, the use of electronic or mechanical devices, and the broader loosening of restrictions on who may conduct and benefit from these drawings. Opponents may have been concerned about gambling expansion, enforcement, prize limits, and whether the bill would blur the line between charitable fundraising and commercial gaming. Supporters likely emphasized new fundraising opportunities for nonprofits, schools, veterans groups, and athletic organizations, especially through game-day 50/50-style drawings and related revenue sharing.