{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-325.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-325.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-325.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-325.html"}],"law_id":74036,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74036,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-325","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 423; 2010, c. 877; 2011, cc. 879, 887; 2019, c. 761; 2020, cc. 1217, 1277; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 329, 546; 2022, cc. 554, 609; 2022, Sp. Sess. I, c. 2; 2023, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1.","full_text":"1\n\n“Illegal gambling” means the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager in the Commonwealth of money or other consideration or thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest, or event occurs or is to occur inside or outside the limits of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subdivision and notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager of money or other consideration or thing of value shall include the purchase of a product, Internet access, or other thing made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value by means of the operation of a gambling device as described in subdivision 3 b, regardless of whether the chance to win such prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value may be offered in the absence of a purchase.\n\t\t\t“Illegal gambling” also means the playing or offering for play of any skill game.2\n\n“Interstate gambling” means the conduct of an enterprise for profit that engages in the purchase or sale within the Commonwealth of any interest in a lottery of another state or country whether or not such interest is an actual lottery ticket, receipt, contingent promise to pay, order to purchase, or other record of such interest.3\n\n“Gambling device” includes:\n\t\t\ta. Any device, machine, paraphernalia, equipment, or other thing, including books, records, and other papers, which are actually used in an illegal gambling operation or activity;\n\t\t\tb. Any machine, apparatus, implement, instrument, contrivance, board, or other thing, or electronic or video versions thereof, including but not limited to those dependent upon the insertion of a coin or other object for their operation, which operates, either completely automatically or with the aid of some physical act by the player or operator, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of chance, it may eject something of value or determine the prize or other thing of value to which the player is entitled, provided, however, that the return to the user of nothing more than additional chances or the right to use such machine is not deemed something of value within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further, that machines that only sell, or entitle the user to, items of merchandise of equivalent value that may differ from each other in composition, size, shape, or color, shall not be deemed gambling devices within the meaning of this subsection; and\n\t\t\tc. Skill games.\n\t\t\tSuch devices are no less gambling devices if they indicate beforehand the definite result of one or more operations but not all the operations. Nor are they any less a gambling device because, apart from their use or adaptability as such, they may also sell or deliver something of value on a basis other than chance.4\n\n“Operator” includes any person, firm, or association of persons, who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity, or operation.5\n\n“Skill” means the knowledge, dexterity, or any other ability or expertise of a natural person.6\n\n“Skill game” means an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash or cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash or cash equivalents whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. “Skill game” includes (i) a device that contains a meter or measurement device that records the number of free games or portions of games that are rewarded and (ii) a device designed or adapted to enable a person using the device to increase the chances of winning free games or portions of games by paying more than the amount that is ordinarily required to play the game. “Skill game” does not include any amusement device, as defined in § 18.2-334.6.7\n\n“Unregulated location” means any location that is not regulated or operated by the Virginia Lottery or Virginia Lottery Board, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, or the Virginia Racing Commission.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":266288,"text":"“Illegal gambling” means the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager in the Commonwealth of money or other consideration or thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest, or event occurs or is to occur inside or outside the limits of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subdivision and notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager of money or other consideration or thing of value shall include the purchase of a product, Internet access, or other thing made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value by means of the operation of a gambling device as described in subdivision 3 b, regardless of whether the chance to win such prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value may be offered in the absence of a purchase.\n\t\t\t“Illegal gambling” also means the playing or offering for play of any skill game.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"2"},"1":{"id":266289,"text":"“Interstate gambling” means the conduct of an enterprise for profit that engages in the purchase or sale within the Commonwealth of any interest in a lottery of another state or country whether or not such interest is an actual lottery ticket, receipt, contingent promise to pay, order to purchase, or other record of such interest.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"2":{"id":266290,"text":"“Gambling device” includes:\n\t\t\ta. Any device, machine, paraphernalia, equipment, or other thing, including books, records, and other papers, which are actually used in an illegal gambling operation or activity;\n\t\t\tb. Any machine, apparatus, implement, instrument, contrivance, board, or other thing, or electronic or video versions thereof, including but not limited to those dependent upon the insertion of a coin or other object for their operation, which operates, either completely automatically or with the aid of some physical act by the player or operator, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of chance, it may eject something of value or determine the prize or other thing of value to which the player is entitled, provided, however, that the return to the user of nothing more than additional chances or the right to use such machine is not deemed something of value within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further, that machines that only sell, or entitle the user to, items of merchandise of equivalent value that may differ from each other in composition, size, shape, or color, shall not be deemed gambling devices within the meaning of this subsection; and\n\t\t\tc. Skill games.\n\t\t\tSuch devices are no less gambling devices if they indicate beforehand the definite result of one or more operations but not all the operations. Nor are they any less a gambling device because, apart from their use or adaptability as such, they may also sell or deliver something of value on a basis other than chance.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"3":{"id":266291,"text":"“Operator” includes any person, firm, or association of persons, who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity, or operation.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"4":{"id":266292,"text":"“Skill” means the knowledge, dexterity, or any other ability or expertise of a natural person.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"5":{"id":266293,"text":"“Skill game” means an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash or cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash or cash equivalents whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. “Skill game” includes (i) a device that contains a meter or measurement device that records the number of free games or portions of games that are rewarded and (ii) a device designed or adapted to enable a person using the device to increase the chances of winning free games or portions of games by paying more than the amount that is ordinarily required to play the game. “Skill game” does not include any amusement device, as defined in § 18.2-334.6.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"6":{"id":266294,"text":"“Unregulated location” means any location that is not regulated or operated by the Virginia Lottery or Virginia Lottery Board, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, or the Virginia Racing Commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14815,"edition_id":1,"name":"Gambling","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:07","permalink":{"id":167395,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14815,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/8\/1","url":"\/18.2\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14022,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":74036,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-325","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-325\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-325","metadata":false},{"id":59721,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-325.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-325.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-325.1","metadata":false},{"id":66964,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-326","catch_line":"Penalty for illegal gambling","url":"\/18.2-326\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-326","metadata":false},{"id":58713,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-327","catch_line":"Winning by fraud; penalty","url":"\/18.2-327\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-327","metadata":false},{"id":68030,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-328","catch_line":"Conducting illegal gambling operation; penalties","url":"\/18.2-328\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-328","metadata":false},{"id":62357,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-329","catch_line":"Owners, etc., of gambling place permitting its continuance; penalty","url":"\/18.2-329\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-329","metadata":false},{"id":84536,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-330","catch_line":"Accessories to gambling activity; penalty","url":"\/18.2-330\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-330","metadata":false},{"id":67229,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-331","catch_line":"Illegal possession, etc., of gambling device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-331\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-331","metadata":false},{"id":76128,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-331.1","catch_line":"Operation of gambling devices at unregulated locations; civil penalty","url":"\/18.2-331.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-331.1","metadata":false},{"id":68753,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-332","catch_line":"Certain acts not deemed \"consideration\" in prosecution under this article","url":"\/18.2-332\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-332","metadata":false},{"id":66159,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-333","catch_line":"Exceptions to article; certain sporting events","url":"\/18.2-333\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-333","metadata":false},{"id":71922,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334","catch_line":"Exception to article; private residences","url":"\/18.2-334\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334","metadata":false},{"id":82604,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.1","catch_line":"Defeated at referendum","url":"\/18.2-334.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.1","metadata":false},{"id":74691,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.2","catch_line":"Same; bingo games, raffles, duck races, and Texas Hold'em poker tournaments conducted by certain organizations","url":"\/18.2-334.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.2","metadata":false},{"id":56658,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.3","catch_line":"Exemptions to article","url":"\/18.2-334.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.3","metadata":false},{"id":83291,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.4","catch_line":"Exemptions to article; pari-mutuel wagering","url":"\/18.2-334.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.4","metadata":false},{"id":78964,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.5","catch_line":"Exemptions to article; certain gaming operations","url":"\/18.2-334.5\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.5","metadata":false},{"id":73596,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-334.6","catch_line":"Exemptions to article; amusement devices","url":"\/18.2-334.6\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-334.6","metadata":false},{"id":70558,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-335","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-335\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-335","metadata":false},{"id":73018,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-336","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-336\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-336","metadata":false},{"id":58107,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-337","catch_line":"Immunity of witnesses from prosecution","url":"\/18.2-337\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-337","metadata":false},{"id":58992,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-338","catch_line":"Enforcement of \u00a7 18.2-331 by Governor and Attorney General","url":"\/18.2-338\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-338","metadata":false},{"id":81435,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-339","catch_line":"Enjoining offenses relating to gambling","url":"\/18.2-339\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-339","metadata":false},{"id":61538,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-340","catch_line":"County ordinances prohibiting illegal gambling","url":"\/18.2-340\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-340","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":59721,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-325.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-325.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-325.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-325\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 14 and 15 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1992, chapter 423; in 2010, chapter 877<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 879<\/a> and 887<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 761<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 1217<\/a> and 1277<\/a>; in 2022, chapters 554<\/a> and 609<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66964,"section_number":"18.2-326","catch_line":"Penalty for illegal gambling","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-326\/"},{"id":71922,"section_number":"18.2-334","catch_line":"Exception to article; private residences","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-334\/"},{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":75223,"section_number":"2.2-614.3","catch_line":"Charitable organization; certain government action prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-614.3\/"},{"id":74009,"section_number":"52-53","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/52-53\/"},{"id":78216,"section_number":"58.1-4003","catch_line":"Virginia Lottery established","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4003\/"},{"id":63315,"section_number":"59.1-397","catch_line":"Unlawful transmission of information","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-397\/"},{"id":63167,"section_number":"59.1-569","catch_line":"Fantasy contests conducted under this chapter not illegal gambling","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-569\/"},{"id":54965,"section_number":"6.2-603.1","catch_line":"Savings promotions","order_by":null,"url":"\/6.2-603.1\/"},{"id":86532,"section_number":"8.01-216.3","catch_line":"False claims; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-216.3\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167397,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74036,"identifier":"18.2-325","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-325","url":"\/18.2-325\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-325\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-325","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-325","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> “Illegal gambling<\/span>” means the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager in the Commonwealth of money or other consideration or thing of value, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest, or any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest, or event occurs or is to occur inside or outside the limits of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subdivision and notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or wager of money or other consideration or thing of value shall include the purchase of a product, Internet access, or other thing made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value by means of the operation of a gambling device as described in subdivision 3 b, regardless of whether the chance to win such prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value may be offered in the absence of a purchase.\n\t\t\t“Illegal gambling<\/span>” also means the playing or offering for play of any skill game<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> “Interstate gambling<\/span>” means the conduct of an enterprise for profit that engages in the purchase or sale within the Commonwealth of any interest in a lottery of another state or country whether or not such interest is an actual lottery ticket, receipt, contingent promise to pay, order<\/span> to purchase, or other record of such interest. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> “Gambling device” includes:\n\t\t\ta. Any device, machine, paraphernalia, equipment, or other thing, including books, records, and other papers, which are actually used in an illegal gambling<\/span> operation or activity;\n\t\t\tb. Any machine, apparatus, implement, instrument, contrivance, board, or other thing, or electronic or video versions thereof, including but not limited to those dependent upon the insertion of a coin or other object<\/span> for their operation, which operates, either completely automatically or with the aid of some physical act by the player or operator<\/span>, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of chance, it may eject something of value or determine the prize or other thing of value to which the player is entitled, provided, however, that the return to the user of nothing more than additional chances or the right to use such machine is not deemed something of value within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further, that machines that only sell, or entitle the user to, items of merchandise of equivalent value that may differ from each other in composition, size, shape, or color, shall not be deemed gambling devices within the meaning of this subsection; and\n\t\t\tc. Skill games<\/span>.\n\t\t\tSuch devices are no less gambling devices if they indicate beforehand the definite result of one or more operations but not all the operations. Nor are they any less a gambling device because, apart from their use or adaptability as such, they may also sell or deliver something of value on a basis other than chance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> “Operator<\/span>” includes any person, firm, or association of persons, who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling<\/span> enterprise, activity, or operation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> “Skill” means the knowledge, dexterity, or any other ability or expertise of a natural person. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> “Skill game<\/span>” means an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object<\/span> to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash or cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash or cash equivalents whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually. “Skill game<\/span>” includes (i) a device that contains a meter or measurement device that records the number of free games or portions of games that are rewarded and (ii) a device designed or adapted to enable a person using the device to increase the chances of winning free games or portions of games by paying more than the amount that is ordinarily required to play the game. “Skill game<\/span>” does not include any amusement device, as defined in § 18.2-334.6<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> “Unregulated location<\/span>” means any location that is not regulated or operated by the Virginia Lottery or Virginia Lottery Board, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, or the Virginia Racing Commission. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 18.2-325)\n\n1. “Illegal gambling” means the making, placing, or receipt of any\nbet or wager in the Commonwealth of money or other consideration or thing of\nvalue, made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake, or other\nconsideration or thing of value, dependent upon the result of any game, contest,\nor any other event the outcome of which is uncertain or a matter of chance,\nwhether such game, contest, or event occurs or is to occur inside or outside the\nlimits of the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subdivision and notwithstanding any provision in\nthis section to the contrary, the making, placing, or receipt of any bet or\nwager of money or other consideration or thing of value shall include the\npurchase of a product, Internet access, or other thing made in exchange for a\nchance to win a prize, stake, or other consideration or thing of value by means\nof the operation of a gambling device as described in subdivision 3 b,\nregardless of whether the chance to win such prize, stake, or other\nconsideration or thing of value may be offered in the absence of a purchase.\n\t\t\t“Illegal gambling” also means the playing or offering for play of\nany skill game.\n\n2. “Interstate gambling” means the conduct of an enterprise for\nprofit that engages in the purchase or sale within the Commonwealth of any\ninterest in a lottery of another state or country whether or not such interest\nis an actual lottery ticket, receipt, contingent promise to pay, order to\npurchase, or other record of such interest.\n\n3. “Gambling device” includes:\n\t\t\ta. Any device, machine, paraphernalia, equipment, or other thing, including\nbooks, records, and other papers, which are actually used in an illegal gambling\noperation or activity;\n\t\t\tb. Any machine, apparatus, implement, instrument, contrivance, board, or\nother thing, or electronic or video versions thereof, including but not limited\nto those dependent upon the insertion of a coin or other object for their\noperation, which operates, either completely automatically or with the aid of\nsome physical act by the player or operator, in such a manner that, depending\nupon elements of chance, it may eject something of value or determine the prize\nor other thing of value to which the player is entitled, provided, however, that\nthe return to the user of nothing more than additional chances or the right to\nuse such machine is not deemed something of value within the meaning of this\nsubsection; and provided further, that machines that only sell, or entitle the\nuser to, items of merchandise of equivalent value that may differ from each\nother in composition, size, shape, or color, shall not be deemed gambling\ndevices within the meaning of this subsection; and\n\t\t\tc. Skill games.\n\t\t\tSuch devices are no less gambling devices if they indicate beforehand the\ndefinite result of one or more operations but not all the operations. Nor are\nthey any less a gambling device because, apart from their use or adaptability as\nsuch, they may also sell or deliver something of value on a basis other than\nchance.\n\n4. “Operator” includes any person, firm, or association of persons,\nwho conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an\nillegal gambling enterprise, activity, or operation.\n\n5. “Skill” means the knowledge, dexterity, or any other ability or\nexpertise of a natural person.\n\n6. “Skill game” means an electronic, computerized, or mechanical\ncontrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a\ncoin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a\ngame, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player\nand that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to\nreceive cash or cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets,\ntokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash or cash equivalents\nwhether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually.\n“Skill game” includes (i) a device that contains a meter or\nmeasurement device that records the number of free games or portions of games\nthat are rewarded and (ii) a device designed or adapted to enable a person using\nthe device to increase the chances of winning free games or portions of games by\npaying more than the amount that is ordinarily required to play the game.\n“Skill game” does not include any amusement device, as defined in\n§ 18.2-334.6.\n\n7. “Unregulated location” means any location that is not regulated\nor operated by the Virginia Lottery or Virginia Lottery Board, the Department of\nAgriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control\nAuthority, or the Virginia Racing Commission.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 423; 2010, c. 877; 2011, cc. 879, 887; 2019,\nc. 761; 2020, cc. 1217, 1277; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 329, 546; 2022, cc. 554,\n609; 2022, Sp. Sess. I, c. 2; 2023, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}