2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100031D

HOUSE BILL NO. 396

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 12, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-340.28:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to charitable gaming; Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.

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Patrons—Krizek and Gardner

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Referred to Committee on General Laws

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-340.28:2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-340.28:2. Conduct of Texas Hold'em poker tournaments by qualified organizations; limitation of operator fee; conditions.

A. Any organization qualified to conduct bingo games on or after July 1, 2019, may conduct Texas Hold'em poker tournaments; however, no such organization may conduct individual Texas Hold'em poker games. The Commissioner shall promulgate regulations establishing circumstances under which organizations qualified to conduct bingo games prior to July 1, 2019, may conduct Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.

B. A qualified organization may contract with an operator to administer Texas Hold'em poker tournaments. Limitations on operator fees shall be established by Department regulations.

C. A qualified organization shall accept only cash or, at its option, checks in payment of any charges or assessments for players to participate in Texas Hold'em poker tournaments. However, no such organization shall accept postdated checks in payment of any charges or assessments for players to participate in Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.

D. No qualified organization or any person on the premises shall extend lines of credit or accept any credit or debit card or other electronic fund transfer in payment of any charges or assessments for players to participate in Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.

E. No qualified organization shall allow any individual younger than 18 21 years of age to participate in Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.

F. No qualified organization may conduct Texas Hold'em poker tournaments (i) at a location outside of the county, city, or town in which its principal office, as registered with the State Corporation Commission, is located or in an adjoining county, city, or town or (ii) at an establishment that has been granted a license pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 4.1-200 et seq.) of Title 4.1 unless such license is held by the qualified organization.

G. For purposes of this subsection:

"Add-ons" means an optional purchase of additional poker chips, usually available once per tournament at the end of the rebuy period or during a specific break, allowing players to boost their stack regardless of their current chip count.

"Rebuy" means an optional purchase during a specific period and under certain conditions of additional poker chips equivalent to the same amount of chips as provided with the original tournament entry fee.

Unlimited rebuys shall only be permitted within the first two hours of tournament play or until the first break, whichever occurs first. A rebuy shall only be allowed if a player has lost all of his poker chips or when a player's total amount of poker chips is less than his starting stack. Rebuys shall be equivalent to the amount of poker chips provided with the original tournament entry fee.

One add-on shall be permitted at the end of the rebuy period before play resumes at the end of the first break. Only players that still have poker chips in play after the first break shall be eligible to purchase an add-on. Players shall be limited to the purchase of one add-on per player per tournament.