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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326 — Penalty for illegal gambling

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 1: Gambling, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who illegally gambles or engages in interstate gambling as defined in § 18.2-325 shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. If an association or pool of persons illegally gamble, each person therein shall be guilty of illegal gambling. However, if any person makes, places, or receives any bet or wager of money or other thing of value on a horse race in the Commonwealth, whether the race is inside or outside the limits of the Commonwealth at any place or through any means other than (i) at a racetrack licensed by the Virginia Racing Commission pursuant to Chapter 29 (§ 59.1-364 et seq.) of Title 59.1 or (ii) at a satellite facility or through advance deposit account wagering, as those terms are defined in § 59.1-365 , licensed by the Virginia Racing Commission pursuant to Chapter 29 (§ 59.1-364 et seq.) of Title 59.1, such person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For the purposes of this paragraph, venue shall be in any county or city in which any act was performed in furtherance of any course of conduct constituting illegal gambling.

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Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is penalty for illegal gambling a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: penalty for illegal gambling ranges from a class 3 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326.

General illegal gambling: class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326) · Illegal wagering on horse race outside licensed venues: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326)

Which Virginia statute covers penalty for illegal gambling?

Penalty for illegal gambling is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-326 (Penalty for illegal gambling).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.