A Senate committee has rejected a bill that would allow Virginia residents to bet on the state’s college sports teams. Some worry that college athletes would be put under pressure to accept bribes or throw the outcome of games.
On Tuesday, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted 14-0 to continue the bill to next year, meaning the measure is done for this year.
Lawmakers legalized most sports gambling in Virginia in 2020. The one group of teams left out were college teams here, such as Virginia Tech football or University of Virginia basketball. They were left out so they would not be pressured to take bribes.
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“That’s really the question,” said Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover.
Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, sponsored the measure to let Virginians bet on Virginia college teams.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, countered that college athletes are already under such pressure, because people already wager on their games.
“Virginia folks are already gambling on sports,” VanValkenburg said. “They’re doing it illegally. They’re doing it through friends in other states. They’re going to other states themselves.”
It would be safer to legalize gambling and monitor it, he added. Plus the state would make money off the tax revenue.
Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said the transfer portal and the decision to let players profit off their name, image and likeness, or NIL, has ruined college sports. He shared McDougle’s concern.
VanValkenburg pointed out that some college athletes are making big money through endorsements and other advertisements. Armando Bacot, a University of North Carolina basketball player from Richmond, told Sports Illustrated he expected to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in endorsements. Allowing gambling would not add pressure to these athletes, VanValkenburg said.
“I agree. I think college sports are in a bad place,” he added. “I actually think this helps us in that way.”
Virginia residents wagered $633 million on sports in the month of December, according to the Virginia Lottery, generating $8 million in tax revenue.
Today in history: Feb. 7
1948: Omar Bradley
In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as U.S. Army chief of staff; he was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.
1962: John F. Kennedy
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
1964: The Beatles
In 1964, the Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their first American tour.
1984: Spacewalk
In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly six hours.
1985: Enrique “Kiki” Camarena
In 1985, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, Mexico, by drug traffickers who tortured and murdered him.
1991: Jean-Bertrand Aristide
In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of Haiti (he was overthrown by the military the following September).
2009: Lake Erie
In 2009, a miles-wide section of ice in Lake Erie broke away from the Ohio shoreline, trapping about 135 fishermen, some for as long as four hours before they could be rescued (one man fell into the water and later died of an apparent heart attack).
2014: Sochi Olympics
In 2014, the Sochi Olympics opened with a celebration of Russia’s past greatness and hopes for future glory.
2018: Los Angeles Times sale
In 2018, biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong struck a $500 million deal to buy the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune and other publications.
2020: Donald Trump
In 2020, two days after his acquittal in his first Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump took retribution against two officials who had delivered damaging testimony; he ousted Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security aide, and Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union.
2021: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2021, after moving south to a new team and conference, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers’ home field.
Eric Kolenich (804) 649-6109