Paul Krizek House Bill 32 Strengthening Problem Gambling Advisory Committee Passes

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia General Assembly has given final approval to House Bill 32, a measure aimed at enhancing the state’s response to problem gambling by expanding the membership of the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee. The bill, which passed both chambers unanimously, now heads to Governor Glenn Youngkin for his consideration.

Introduced by Delegate Paul Krizek of Fairfax County, House Bill 32 amends Section 37.2-304 of the Code of Virginia, outlining the duties of the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The legislation specifically directs the commissioner to appoint two additional members to the advisory committee: an employee of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services with expertise in recovery and treatment services, and a representative from the Virginia State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit.

This expansion builds on the committee’s existing role in fostering collaboration among prevention and treatment providers, regulators of legal gaming operations, and industry stakeholders. The committee, chaired by the Problem Gambling Prevention Coordinator, already includes representatives from agencies overseeing the lottery, casino gaming, sports betting, horse racing, historical horse racing, and charitable gaming, as well as community services boards and gaming operators.

Virginia’s gambling landscape has grown significantly in recent years. Sports betting launched in 2021, followed by the opening of casinos and continued expansion of other forms. Annual wagers now exceed $12.5 billion, with sports betting alone generating substantial revenue. However, this growth has coincided with rising concerns over problem gambling. Calls to the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline surged 39 percent in 2025, reaching 21,983, underscoring the urgent need for robust support systems.

The Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, supports these efforts. Entering fiscal year 2025 with over $2.3 million, the fund received an additional allocation later that year, reflecting the state’s commitment to addressing addiction without imposing new taxes or expenditures.

House Bill 32’s fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget confirms minimal costs. Any administrative expenses associated with the new appointments can be absorbed using existing resources, aligning with principles of fiscal responsibility and efficient government operations.

The bill progressed swiftly through the legislative process. Prefiled on December 22, 2025, and offered January 14, 2026, it was referred to the House Committee on Health and Human Services. The subcommittee on Behavioral Health recommended reporting it unanimously on January 22, followed by full committee approval (22-0) on January 27. The House passed it on February 2 by a vote of 99-0.

In the Senate, referred to Education and Health on February 3, it was rereferred to Rehabilitation and Social Services on February 19. The committee reported it favorably (15-0) on March 6. After rules suspension, it passed the Senate on March 10 by a 40-0 block vote.

Supporters highlight the strategic additions to the committee. The inclusion of a recovery and treatment specialist ensures that evidence-based services remain at the forefront, emphasizing personal recovery and reintegration into family and community life. The Virginia State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit representative brings critical law enforcement perspective, enhancing coordination to combat illegal gaming activities that often exacerbate addiction issues.

As Virginia navigates the challenges of legalized gaming, House Bill 32 represents a proactive step toward safeguarding vulnerable residents. By bolstering expertise in treatment and enforcement, the measure promotes accountability among operators and strengthens prevention efforts. Unanimous passage in both chambers demonstrates broad agreement on the importance of mitigating the social costs of gambling expansion.

The advisory committee’s work supports the broader mission of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to administer a comprehensive program for problem gambling prevention and treatment. This includes leveraging revenues from gaming to fund helplines, counseling, and support programs that help individuals overcome addiction and resume productive lives.

With problem gambling awareness emphasized during March, the timely passage of House Bill 32 positions Virginia to better serve those affected. Families across the Commonwealth stand to benefit from enhanced collaboration that prioritizes recovery, enforcement, and prevention, ensuring that gaming revenues contribute positively without undermining community well-being.

Governor Youngkin, who has prioritized mental health and public safety initiatives, will review the bill in the coming days. Its enactment would affirm Virginia’s dedication to balanced governance in the face of evolving gaming policies.

Email Fairfax County Supervisors At:
Jeff McKay → chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Kathy Smith (Sully District) sully@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rachna Heizer (Braddock District) braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov,
James Bierman (Dranesville District) dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rodney Lusk (Franconia District) franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill District) huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Andres Jimenez (Mason District) mason@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon District)  mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Dalia Palchik (Providence District)  providence@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Pat Herrity (Springfield District) springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov,

 

To Contact Fairfax School Board Members:
All Members - FairfaxCountySchoolBoard@fcps.edu,
Tom Dannan - tfdannan@fcps.edu, 
Robyn Lady - ralady1@fcps.edu,
Marcia St. John-Cunning -  mstjohncunni@fcps.edu,
Melanie Meren - HunterMillStaff@fcps.edu,
Ricardy Anderson - randerson@fcps.edu,
Mateo Dunne - mdunne@fcps.edu,
Karl Frisch - kfrisch@fcps.edu,
Sandy Anderson - sanderson@fcps.edu,
Seema Dixit - sdixit@fcps.edu,
Kyle McDaniel - kmcdaniel@fcps.edu,
Ryan McElveen - rlmcelveen@fcps.edu,
Ilryong Moon - imoon@fcps.edu,

Email the House of Delegates at:
Jessica Anderson: DelJAnderson@house.virginia.gov,
Bonita Anthony: DelBAnthony@house.virginia.gov,
Alex Askew: DelAAskew@house.virginia.gov,
Terry Austin: DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov,
Jason Ballard: DelJBallard@house.virginia.gov,
Robert Bloxom, Jr.: DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov,
Gretchen Bulova: DelGBulova@house.virginia.gov,
Katrina Callsen: DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov,
Karen Carnegie: DelKCarnegie@house.virginia.gov,
Betsy Carr: DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov,
Stacey Carroll: DelSCarroll@house.virginia.gov,
Mike Cherry: DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov,
Nadarius Clark: DelNClark@house.virginia.gov,
Laura Cohen: DelLJCohen@house.virginia.gov,
Joshua Cole: DelJCole@house.virginia.gov,
Nicole Cole: DelNCole@house.virginia.gov,
Kelly Convirs-Fowler: DelKConvirs-Fowler@house.virginia.gov,
Mitchell Cornett: DelMCornett@house.virginia.gov,
Rae Cousins: DelRCousins@house.virginia.gov,
Will Davis: DelWDavis@house.virginia.gov,
Karrie Delaney: DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov,
Lindsey Dougherty: DelLDougherty@house.virginia.gov,
Mark Downey: DelMDowney@house.virginia.gov,
Michael Feggans: DelMFeggans@house.virginia.gov,
Hyland Fowler, Jr.: DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov,
Lily Franklin: DelLFranklin@house.virginia.gov,
Margaret Franklin: DelMFranklin@house.virginia.gov,
Debra Gardner: DelDGardner@house.virginia.gov,
Thomas Garrett, Jr.: DelTGarrett@house.virginia.gov,
Jackie Glass: DelJGlass@house.virginia.gov,
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Elizabeth Guzman: DelEGuzman@house.virginia.gov,
Karen Hamilton: DelKHamilton@house.virginia.gov,
Cliff Hayes, Jr.: DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov,
Dan Helmer: DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov,
Rozia Henson, Jr.: DelRHenson@house.virginia.gov,
Phil Hernandez: DelPHernandez@house.virginia.gov,
Charniele Herring: DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov,
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Patrick Hope: DelPHope@house.virginia.gov,
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Terry Kilgore: DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov,
Paul Krizek: DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov,
Amy Laufer: DelALaufer@house.virginia.gov,
Destiny LeVere Bolling: DelDLeVereBolling@house.virginia.gov,
Jay Leftwich, Jr.: DelJLeftwich@house.virginia.gov,
Alfonso Lopez: DelALopez@house.virginia.gov,
Fernando Martinez: DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov,
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Leslie Mehta: DelLMehta@house.virginia.gov,
Will Morefield: DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov,
May Nivar: DelMNivar@house.virginia.gov,
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Cia Price: DelMPrice@house.virginia.gov,
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Briana Sewell: DelBSewell@house.virginia.gov,
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Marcus Simon: DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov,
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JJ Singh: DelJSingh@house.virginia.gov,
Rip Sullivan, Jr.: DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov,
Anne Tata: DelAFTata@house.virginia.gov,
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Virgil Thornton, Sr.: DelVThornton@house.virginia.gov,
Luke Torian: DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov,
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Howard Wachsmann, Jr.: DelOWachsmann@house.virginia.gov,
Wendell Walker: DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov,
Jeion Ward: DelJWard@house.virginia.gov,
Lee Ware: DelLWare@house.virginia.gov,
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Michael Webert: DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov,
Madison Whittle: DelMWhittle@house.virginia.gov,
Bill Wiley: DelBWiley@house.virginia.gov,
Rodney Willett: DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov,
Wren Williams: DelWWilliams@house.virginia.gov,
Tony Wilt: DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov,
Thomas Wright, Jr.: DelTWright@house.virginia.gov,
Scott Wyatt: DelSWyatt@house.virginia.gov,
Eric Zehr: DelEZehr@house.virginia.gov,

Email the Virginia Senate At:
Lashrecse Aird - senatoraird@senate.virginia.gov,
Lamont Bagby - senatorbagby@senate.virginia.gov,
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker - senatorbennett-parker@senate.virginia.gov,
Jennifer Boysko - senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov,
Jennifer Carroll Foy - senatorcarrollfoy@senate.virginia.gov,
Luther Cifers - senatorcifers@senate.virginia.gov,
Christie Craig - senatorcraig@senate.virginia.gov,
Creigh Deeds - senatordeeds@senate.virginia.gov,
Bill DeSteph - senatordesteph@senate.virginia.gov,
Danny Diggs - senatordiggs@senate.virginia.gov,
Tara Durant - senatordurant@senate.virginia.gov,
Barbara Favola - senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov,
Timmy French - senatorfrench@senate.virginia.gov,
Travis Hackworth - senatorhackworth@senate.virginia.gov,
Christopher Head - senatorhead@senate.virginia.gov,
Michael Jones - senatorjones@senate.virginia.gov,
Emily Jordan - senatorjordan@senate.virginia.gov,
Mamie Locke - senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov,
Louise Lucas - senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov,
David Marsden - senatormarsden@senate.virginia.gov,
Ryan McDougle - senatormcdougle@senate.virginia.gov,
Jeremy McPike - senatormcpike@senate.virginia.gov,
Tammy Mulchi - senatormulchi@senate.virginia.gov,
Mark Obenshain - senatorobenshain@senate.virginia.gov,
Mark Peake - senatorpeake@senate.virginia.gov,
Stella Pekarsky - senatorpekarsky@senate.virginia.gov,
Russet Perry - senatorperry@senate.virginia.gov,
Todd Pillion - senatorpillion@senate.virginia.gov,
Bryce Reeves - senatorreeves@senate.virginia.gov,
Danica Roem - senatorroem@senate.virginia.gov,
Aaron Rouse - senatorrouse@senate.virginia.gov,
Saddam Salim - senatorsalim@senate.virginia.gov,
Kannan Srinivasan - senatorsrinivasan@senate.virginia.gov,
William Stanley - senatorstanley@senate.virginia.gov,
Richard Stuart - senatorstuart@senate.virginia.gov,
Glen Sturtevant - senatorsturtevant@senate.virginia.gov,
David Suetterlein - senatorsuetterlein@senate.virginia.gov,
Scott Surovell - senatorsurovell@senate.virginia.gov,
Schuyler VanValkenburg - senatorvanvalkenburg@senate.virginia.gov,
Angelia Williams Graves - senatorwilliamsgraves@senate.virginia.gov,

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,