<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82425</law_id><section_number>58.1-4126</section_number><catch_line>Illegal operation; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Other Sources of State Revenue</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="41">Casino Gaming</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="10">Prohibited Acts; Penalties</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall: <a id="paragraph-295322" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Operate <span class="dictionary">casino gaming</span> where wagering is used or to be used without a license issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-295323" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Operate <span class="dictionary">casino gaming</span> where wagering is permitted other than in the manner specified by this chapter. <a id="paragraph-295324" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Offer, promise, or give anything of value or benefit to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is connected with a <span class="dictionary">gaming operation</span>, including an officer or employee of a licensed operator or <span class="dictionary">permit holder</span>, pursuant to an agreement or arrangement or with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> that the promise or thing of value or benefit will influence the actions of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> to whom the offer, promise, or gift was made in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a <span class="dictionary">game</span>, or to influence official action of a member of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>, a <span class="dictionary">Department</span> employee, or a local governing body. <a id="paragraph-295325" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Solicit or knowingly accept a promise of anything of value or benefit while the <span class="dictionary">person</span> is connected with a <span class="dictionary">gaming operation</span>, including an officer or employee of a licensed operator or <span class="dictionary">permit holder</span>, pursuant to an understanding or arrangement or with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> that the promise or thing of value or benefit will influence the actions of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a <span class="dictionary">game</span>, or to influence official action of a member of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>, a <span class="dictionary">Department</span> employee, or a local governing body. <a id="paragraph-295326" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Use or possess with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to use a device to assist in:
				a. Projecting the outcome of a <span class="dictionary">game</span>;
				b. Keeping track of the cards played;
				c. Analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to a <span class="dictionary">game</span>; or
				d. Analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in a <span class="dictionary">game</span> except as permitted by <span class="dictionary">Department</span> regulation. <a id="paragraph-295327" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Cheat</span> at gaming. <a id="paragraph-295328" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Manufacture, sell, or distribute any card, chip, dice, <span class="dictionary">game</span>, or device that is intended to be used to violate any provision of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-295329" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Alter or misrepresent the outcome of a <span class="dictionary">game</span> on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before it is revealed to the players. <a id="paragraph-295330" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Place a bet after acquiring knowledge, not available to all players, of the outcome of the <span class="dictionary">game</span> that is the subject of the bet or to aid a <span class="dictionary">person</span> in acquiring the knowledge for the purpose of placing a bet contingent on that outcome. <a id="paragraph-295331" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Claim, collect, or take, or attempt to claim, collect, or take, money or anything of value in or from a <span class="dictionary">game</span>, with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to defraud, without having made a wager contingent on winning the <span class="dictionary">game</span> or claim, collect, or take an amount of money or thing of value of greater value than the amount won. <a id="paragraph-295332" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Use counterfeit chips or tokens in a <span class="dictionary">game</span>. <a id="paragraph-295333" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Possess any key or device designed for the purpose of opening, entering, or affecting the operation of a <span class="dictionary">game</span>, drop box, or electronic or mechanical device connected with the <span class="dictionary">game</span> or for removing coins, tokens, chips, or other contents of a <span class="dictionary">game</span>. This subdivision does not apply to a <span class="dictionary">casino gaming</span> <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or employee of a <span class="dictionary">casino gaming</span> <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> acting in furtherance of the employee&#x2019;s employment. <a id="paragraph-295334" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. In addition, any <span class="dictionary">person</span> convicted of a violation of subsection A shall be barred for life from <span class="dictionary">gaming operations</span> under the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-295335" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-4126/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 1197, 1248.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
