Five Virginia senators named in claims over $100,000 donations linked to iGaming legalization push

Five Virginia senators have been named in reporting that says each received $100,000 from the Sports Betting Alliance after the 2026 legislative session, in connection with support for SB 118, the bill that would have laid the groundwork for online casinos in Virginia. For anyone watching U.S. iGaming policy, the point is simple: when legalization efforts run into political resistance, the money trail quickly becomes part of the story.

1. David Poole first reported that Sen. Christie Craig, Sen. Danny Diggs, Sen. Emily Jordan, Sen. Todd Pillion, and Sen. Glen Sturtevant each received six-figure sums from the Sports Betting Alliance. The report says the payments followed the 2026 legislative session and were tied to their support for iGaming legislation.
2. The five senators reportedly broke with the party line to back SB 118, a bill that would have advanced online casinos in Virginia. Their votes helped move the measure forward at one stage, but the bill later stalled in the legislature and did not reach the government’s desk because lawmakers could not reconcile their versions of the proposal and opposition remained broad.
3. The reporting lines up with accusations from the National Association Against iGaming, which also named the same five senators. The association has argued against iGaming on the basis that it would put “a casino in your pocket,” meaning 24-7 access to online casino gambling.
4. Oliver Barie, a spokesperson for the National Association Against iGaming, said: “No political contributions, no matter how eye-popping, are worth the harm that will be inflicted on Virginians by having 24-7 access to a casino in their pocket.” That is the opposition’s core message in one sentence, and it is also why Virginia remains a live but unsettled market rather than a confirmed one.
5. Both chambers had worked on iGaming legislation, but no single bill gained agreement. The House of Representatives did not move forward with the Senate’s bill, and HB 161 never took off in the Senate. On paper, the two chambers were circling the same policy; in practice, they never got to the same text.

The bills reportedly aligned on key commercial terms, including a 20% tax, a $500,000 licensing fee for brick-and-mortar operators, and a $2 million fee for online operators. For PSPs and other payment providers, those numbers matter because they signal what kind of operator base Virginia was trying to build, even if the legislation itself never cleared the final political hurdle.