HB 161 in the Virginia House of Delegates and SB 118 in the Virginia Senate are moving quickly through the General Assembly. If passed, these bills would legalize casino-style gambling on smartphones and computers, effectively putting a casino in every pocket and making it available 24/7 in every Virginia community.

As the Director of the Virginia Lottery warned lawmakers last week, this proposal puts at risk the $900 million the Lottery contributes to public schools each year. Early impact estimates indicate the Commonwealth could lose up to $500 million over the next five years, nearly $100 million per year for K–12 education.

In effect, this legislation would defund public education while dramatically expanding round-the-clock casino gambling across Virginia.

Click here to contact your legislator and urge them to oppose HB 161 and SB 118 and protect funding for Virginia’s public schools.