Virginia Code 18.2-340.22: Permitted forms of gaming; prizes not gaming contracts
A. This article permits qualified organizations to conduct (i) raffles, bingo, network bingo, instant bingo games, and Texas Hold’em poker tournaments and (ii) electronic gaming authorized pursuant to the provisions of § 18.2-340.26:3. All games not explicitly authorized by this article or Department regulations adopted in accordance with § 18.2-340.19 are prohibited. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize the Department to approve the conduct of any other form of poker in the Commonwealth.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 18.2-340.22
- Bingo: means a specific game of chance played with (i) individual cards having randomly numbered squares ranging from one to 75, (ii) Department-approved electronic devices that display facsimiles of bingo cards and are used for the purpose of marking and monitoring players' cards as numbers are called, or (iii) Department-approved cards, in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers on such cards conforming to a predetermined pattern of numbers selected at random. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
- Conduct: means the actions associated with the provision of a gaming operation during and immediately before or after the permitted activity, which may include (i) selling bingo cards or packs, electronic devices, instant bingo or pull-tab cards, or raffle tickets, (ii) calling bingo games, (iii) distributing prizes, and (iv) any other services provided by volunteer workers. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Department: means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
- Network bingo: means a specific bingo game in which pari-mutuel play is permitted. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
- Organization: means any one of the following:
1. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
- Raffle: means a lottery in which the prize is won by (i) a random drawing of the name or prearranged number of one or more persons purchasing chances or (ii) a random contest in which the winning name or preassigned number of one or more persons purchasing chances is determined by a race involving inanimate objects floating on a body of water, commonly referred to as a "duck race. See Virginia Code 18.2-340.16
B. The award of any prize money for any charitable game shall not be deemed to be part of any gaming contract within the purview of § 11-14.
C. Nothing in this article shall prohibit an organization from using the Virginia Lottery’s Pick-3 number or any number or other designation selected by the Virginia Lottery in connection with any lottery, as the basis for determining the winner of a raffle.
1995, c. 837; 1997, cc. 777, 838; 2003, c. 884; 2013, cc. 36, 350; 2014, c. 225; 2020, c. 982; 2022, cc. 554, 609, 722, 767.