The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission of Virginia have decided on a firm that will help with a gambling review of the United States. The goal is to complete a study that will review how casino gaming along with sports betting and iGaming are affecting states where it is regulated.
During a meeting yesterday, the commission reported that The Innovation Group will be the consultant in their review efforts. The study will include looking into the regulations involving gambling in other jurisdictions so that decisions can be made in Virginia.
The Innovation Group has offices in major cities including New Orleans, Orlando, Las Vegas and Denver. They are a leading consulting firm and have over 30 years of experience in the gaming as well as leisure industry.
The consultation firm and the commission will work together to complete the study. Several scenarios involving the expansion of gaming for Virginia will be included in the study. In the past, legislators of the state have been opposed to any type of expansion in the gaming sector. However, the current changes to the overall landscape of gambling in the US have lawmakers reconsidering their views.
In early 2019, Senate Bill 1126 was passed that could see commercial casinos as well as tribal venues created in the state. With the new bill, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the consultant have until the 1st of December to complete the gambling study as well as present findings to the state’s lawmakers. The results will then be used to determine how the gambling industry of Virginia will grow in the future.
The study will look at several scenarios for gambling expansion and how much varying options could provide by way of state and local revenues. Also under review will be potential locations for casinos. Danville, Bristol and Portsmouth have all stated they would like to offer casino gaming. A citywide referendum would take place in these regions before any gambling venues could be constructed in the future.
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