{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-556.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-556.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-556.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-556.html"}],"law_id":60848,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60848,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-556","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2016, cc. 318, 703.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Confidential information” means information related to the play of a fantasy contest by fantasy contest players obtained as a result of or by virtue of a person’s employment.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.\n\t\t“Entry fee” means cash or cash equivalent that is required to be paid by a fantasy contest participant to a fantasy contest operator in order to participate in a fantasy contest.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest” includes any online fantasy or simulated game or contest with an entry fee in which (i) the value of all prizes and awards offered to winning participants is established and made known to the participants in advance of the contest; (ii) all winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants and shall be determined by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sports events; and (iii) no winning outcome is based on the score, point spread, or any performance of any single actual team or combination of teams or solely on any single performance of an individual athlete or player in any single actual event.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest operator” or “operator” means a person or entity that offers fantasy contests for a cash prize to members of the public.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest player” or “player” means a person who participates in a fantasy contest offered by a fantasy contest operator.\n\t\t“Principal stockholder” means any person who individually or in concert with his spouse and immediate family members beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 15 percent or more of the equity ownership of a fantasy contest operator or who in concert with his spouse and immediate family members has the power to vote or cause the vote of 15 percent or more of the equity ownership of any such operator.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":222447,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Confidential information” means information related to the play of a fantasy contest by fantasy contest players obtained as a result of or by virtue of a person’s employment.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.\n\t\t“Entry fee” means cash or cash equivalent that is required to be paid by a fantasy contest participant to a fantasy contest operator in order to participate in a fantasy contest.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest” includes any online fantasy or simulated game or contest with an entry fee in which (i) the value of all prizes and awards offered to winning participants is established and made known to the participants in advance of the contest; (ii) all winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants and shall be determined by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sports events; and (iii) no winning outcome is based on the score, point spread, or any performance of any single actual team or combination of teams or solely on any single performance of an individual athlete or player in any single actual event.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest operator” or “operator” means a person or entity that offers fantasy contests for a cash prize to members of the public.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest player” or “player” means a person who participates in a fantasy contest offered by a fantasy contest operator.\n\t\t“Principal stockholder” means any person who individually or in concert with his spouse and immediate family members beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 15 percent or more of the equity ownership of a fantasy contest operator or who in concert with his spouse and immediate family members has the power to vote or cause the vote of 15 percent or more of the equity ownership of any such operator.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fantasy Contests Act","identifier":"51","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:59:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:59:37","permalink":{"id":262663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15789,"identifier":"51","token":"59.1\/51","url":"\/59.1\/51\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60848,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-556","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-556\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-556","metadata":false},{"id":81148,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-557","catch_line":"Registration of fantasy contest operators required; application for registration; issuance of registration certificate; penalty","url":"\/59.1-557\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":75725,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-558","catch_line":"Issuance of registration; denial of same","url":"\/59.1-558\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":76769,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-559","catch_line":"Independent audit required; submission to Department","url":"\/59.1-559\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-559","metadata":false},{"id":74156,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-560","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Department","url":"\/59.1-560\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-560","metadata":false},{"id":61517,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-561","catch_line":"Suspension or revocation of registration","url":"\/59.1-561\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":79068,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-562","catch_line":"Hearing and appeal","url":"\/59.1-562\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-562","metadata":false},{"id":62416,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-563","catch_line":"Fees and charges","url":"\/59.1-563\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-563","metadata":false},{"id":78196,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-564","catch_line":"Department to adjust fees; certain transfer of money collected prohibited","url":"\/59.1-564\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-564","metadata":false},{"id":65371,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-565","catch_line":"Public inspection of information filed with Department; charges for production","url":"\/59.1-565\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-565","metadata":false},{"id":68766,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-566","catch_line":"Registration not endorsement","url":"\/59.1-566\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-566","metadata":false},{"id":79411,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-567","catch_line":"Acquisition of interest in fantasy contest operator","url":"\/59.1-567\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-567","metadata":false},{"id":75867,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-568","catch_line":"Civil penalty","url":"\/59.1-568\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-568","metadata":false},{"id":63167,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-569","catch_line":"Fantasy contests conducted under this chapter not illegal gambling","url":"\/59.1-569\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-569","metadata":false},{"id":80267,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-570","catch_line":"Liability imposed by other laws not decreased","url":"\/59.1-570\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-570","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":81148,"structure_id":15789,"section_number":"59.1-557","catch_line":"Registration of fantasy contest operators required; application for registration; issuance of registration certificate; penalty","url":"\/59.1-557\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-557","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-556\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2016. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 318<\/a> and 703<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74009,"section_number":"52-53","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/52-53\/"},{"id":85845,"section_number":"58.1-4015.1","catch_line":"Voluntary exclusion program","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4015.1\/"},{"id":67888,"section_number":"58.1-4030","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4030\/"},{"id":76783,"section_number":"58.1-4103","catch_line":"Voluntary exclusion program","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4103\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":262665,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60848,"identifier":"59.1-556","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-556","url":"\/59.1-556\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-556\/","token":"59.1\/51\/59.1-556","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-556","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Confidential information<\/span>” means information related to the play of a fantasy contest by fantasy contest players<\/span> obtained as a result of or by virtue of a person’s employment.\n\t\t“Department<\/span>” means the Department<\/span> of Agriculture and Consumer Services.\n\t\t“Entry fee<\/span>” means cash or cash equivalent that is required to be paid by a fantasy contest participant to a fantasy contest operator<\/span> in order<\/span> to participate in a fantasy contest.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest” includes any online fantasy or simulated game or contest with an entry fee<\/span> in which (i) the value of all prizes and awards offered to winning participants is established and made known to the participants in advance of the contest; (ii) all winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants and shall be determined by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sports events; and (iii) no winning outcome is based on the score, point spread, or any performance of any single actual team or combination of teams or solely on any single performance of an individual athlete or player in any single actual event.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest operator<\/span>” or “operator” means a person or entity that offers fantasy contests<\/span> for a cash prize to members of the public.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest player<\/span>” or “player” means a person who participates in a fantasy contest offered by a fantasy contest operator<\/span>.\n\t\t“Principal stockholder<\/span>” means any person who individually or in concert with his spouse and immediate family members beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 15 percent or more of the equity<\/span> ownership of a fantasy contest operator<\/span> or who in concert with his spouse and immediate family members has the power to vote or cause the vote of 15 percent or more of the equity<\/span> ownership of any such operator.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 59.1-556)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Confidential information” means information related to the play\nof a fantasy contest by fantasy contest players obtained as a result of or by\nvirtue of a person’s employment.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer\nServices.\n\t\t“Entry fee” means cash or cash equivalent that is required to be\npaid by a fantasy contest participant to a fantasy contest operator in order to\nparticipate in a fantasy contest.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest” includes any online fantasy or simulated game or\ncontest with an entry fee in which (i) the value of all prizes and awards\noffered to winning participants is established and made known to the\nparticipants in advance of the contest; (ii) all winning outcomes reflect the\nrelative knowledge and skill of the participants and shall be determined by\naccumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including\nathletes in the case of sports events; and (iii) no winning outcome is based on\nthe score, point spread, or any performance of any single actual team or\ncombination of teams or solely on any single performance of an individual\nathlete or player in any single actual event.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest operator” or “operator” means a\nperson or entity that offers fantasy contests for a cash prize to members of the\npublic.\n\t\t“Fantasy contest player” or “player” means a person\nwho participates in a fantasy contest offered by a fantasy contest operator.\n\t\t“Principal stockholder” means any person who individually or in\nconcert with his spouse and immediate family members beneficially owns or\ncontrols, directly or indirectly, 15 percent or more of the equity ownership of\na fantasy contest operator or who in concert with his spouse and immediate\nfamily members has the power to vote or cause the vote of 15 percent or more of\nthe equity ownership of any such operator.\n\nHISTORY: 2016, cc. 318, 703.","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}}