Former U.S. Rep. Kennedy: Ask Gov. Spanberger ‘to veto any legislation expanding gambling to iGaming’
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) said that Virginia’s proposed online casino legislation could increase addiction risks and asked Virginia residents to oppose the measure as lawmakers consider authorizing iGaming in the Commonwealth.
“New Jersey passed iGaming, which is now you can do it all at the casino in your phone, and rates of addiction have doubled in New Jersey,” Kennedy said during a Feb. 19 event about mental health and addiction held in Washington, D.C.. “Virginia right now has an iGaming bill that could get signed by the governor.”
“Anyone watching ought to call Governor Spanberger and ask her to veto any legislation expanding gambling to iGaming,” said Kennedy. “If you're watching and you're from Virginia, please call your legislators and tell them you don't want to add more fuel to this epidemic of online addiction.”
Kennedy represented Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2011. Since leaving Congress, he has focused on mental health and addiction policy and founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit organization that advocates for mental health parity and substance use disorder treatment reform.
His comments came as the Virginia General Assembly considers proposals that would authorize internet casino gaming, often referred to as iGaming, and place it under the authority of the Virginia Lottery Board.
Senate Bill 118 would create a regulated online casino market in Virginia and authorize internet gaming and establish oversight through the Lottery Board, according to the Virginia Legislative Information System bill summary.
A fiscal analysis of SB 118 says the proposal would allow licensed casino operators to run online gaming platforms and would impose a 20% tax on adjusted gross internet gaming revenue.
In the House, House Bill 161 outlines a similar regulatory structure and a 15% tax rate, as described in the House fiscal impact statement.
“A small portion, 5%, of those taxes would be allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund,” reported WTOP on Jan. 12.
As Old Dominion News reported earlier this week, calls to the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline — the state-supported hotline that connects residents to treatment and support services — increased 49% from 2023 to 2024, while intake calls rose 11%, according to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services’ evaluation of problem gambling services.
The helpline data provides lawmakers with a snapshot of current demand for gambling treatment and support services as they debate whether to expand access through mobile-based casino gaming platforms.