{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-331.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-331.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-331.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-331.1.html"}],"law_id":76128,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76128,"structure_id":14815,"section_number":"18.2-331.1","catch_line":"Operation of gambling devices at unregulated locations; civil penalty","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 329, 546; 2022, c. 553.","full_text":"A\n\nIn addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, sells, or owns a gambling device that is located in an unregulated location is subject to a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each gambling device located in such unregulated location.B\n\nThe Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to immediately enjoin the operation of a gambling device in violation of this section and to request an attachment against all such devices and any moneys within such devices pursuant to Chapter 20 (&#xA7; 8.01-533 et seq.) of Title 8.01, and to recover the civil penalty of up to $25,000 per device.C\n\nIn any action brought under this section, the Attorney General, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may recover reasonable expenses incurred by the state or local agency in investigating and preparing the case, and attorney fees.D\n\nAny civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity brought in the name of the Commonwealth shall be paid into the Literary Fund. Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity brought in the name of a locality shall be paid into the general fund of the locality.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273235,"text":"In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, sells, or owns a gambling device that is located in an unregulated location is subject to a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each gambling device located in such unregulated location.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":273236,"text":"The Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to immediately enjoin the operation of a gambling device in violation of this section and to request an attachment against all such devices and any moneys within such devices pursuant to Chapter 20 (&#xA7; 8.01-533 et seq.) of Title 8.01, and to recover the civil penalty of up to $25,000 per device.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":273237,"text":"In any action brought under this section, the Attorney General, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may recover reasonable expenses incurred by the state or local agency in investigating and preparing the case, and attorney fees.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":273238,"text":"Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity brought in the name of the Commonwealth shall be paid into the Literary Fund. Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity brought in the name of a locality shall be paid into the general fund of the locality.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-331.1\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0553\">553<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76538,"section_number":"8.01-534","catch_line":"Grounds of action for pretrial levy or seizure of attachment","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-534\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":84946,"section_number":"8.01-533","catch_line":"Who may sue out attachment","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-533\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167429,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76128,"identifier":"18.2-331.1","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-331.1","url":"\/18.2-331.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-331.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/1\/18.2-331.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Operation of gambling devices at unregulated locations; civil penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-331.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> In addition to any other <span class=\"dictionary\">penalty<\/span> provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, any person who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, sells, or owns a gambling device that is located in an unregulated location is subject to a civil <span class=\"dictionary\">penalty<\/span> of up to $25,000 for each gambling device located in such unregulated location. <a id=\"paragraph-273235\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-331.1\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any locality may cause an action in <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to immediately enjoin the operation of a gambling device in violation of this section and to request an <span class=\"dictionary\">attachment<\/span> against all such devices and any moneys within such devices pursuant to Chapter 20 (&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Who may sue out attachment\" href=\"\/8.01-533\/\">8.01-533<\/a> et seq.) of Title 8.01, and to recover the civil <span class=\"dictionary\">penalty<\/span> of up to $25,000 per device. <a id=\"paragraph-273236\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-331.1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> In any action brought under this section, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may recover reasonable expenses incurred by the state or local agency in investigating and preparing the case, and attorney fees. <a id=\"paragraph-273237\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-331.1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> brought in the name of the Commonwealth shall be paid into the Literary Fund. Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> brought in the name of a locality shall be paid into the general fund of the locality. <a id=\"paragraph-273238\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-331.1\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOPERATION OF GAMBLING DEVICES AT UNREGULATED LOCATIONS; CIVIL PENALTY (\u00a7\n18.2-331.1)\n\nA. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who conducts,\nfinances, manages, supervises, directs, sells, or owns a gambling device that is\nlocated in an unregulated location is subject to a civil penalty of up to\n$25,000 for each gambling device located in such unregulated location.\n\nB. The Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for\nany locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the\nCommonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to immediately enjoin the\noperation of a gambling device in violation of this section and to request an\nattachment against all such devices and any moneys within such devices pursuant\nto Chapter 20 (&#xA7; 8.01-533 et seq.) of Title 8.01, and to recover the civil\npenalty of up to $25,000 per device.\n\nC. In any action brought under this section, the Attorney General, the attorney\nfor the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may recover reasonable\nexpenses incurred by the state or local agency in investigating and preparing\nthe case, and attorney fees.\n\nD. Any civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity\nbrought in the name of the Commonwealth shall be paid into the Literary Fund.\nAny civil penalties assessed under this section in an action in equity brought\nin the name of a locality shall be paid into the general fund of the locality.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 329, 546; 2022, c. 553.","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}}