Code of Virginia — Title 58.1 (Taxation), Chapter 40 (Virginia Lottery Law; Sports Betting)
§ 58.1-4006. Powers of the Director.
A. The Director shall supervise and administer:

1. The operation of the lottery in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder; and

2. The regulation of casino gaming in accordance with Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.).

B. The Director shall also:

1. Employ such deputy directors, professional, technical and clerical assistants, and other employees as may be required to carry out the functions and duties of the Department.

2. Act as secretary and executive officer of the Board.

3. Require bond or other surety satisfactory to the Director from licensed agents as provided in subsection E of § 58.1-4009 and Department employees with access to Department funds or lottery funds, in such amount as provided in the rules and regulations of the Board. The Director may also require bond from other employees as he deems necessary.

4. Confer regularly, but not less than four times each year, with the Board on the operation and administration of the lottery and the regulation of casino gaming; make available for inspection by the Board, upon request, all books, records, files, and other information and documents of the Department; and advise the Board and recommend such matters as he deems necessary and advisable to improve the operation and administration of the lottery and the regulation of casino gaming.

5. Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license issued pursuant to this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder.

6. Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license or permit issued pursuant to Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.).

7. Eject or exclude from a casino gaming establishment any person, whether or not he possesses a license or permit, whose conduct or reputation is such that his presence may, in the opinion of the Director, reflect negatively on the honesty and integrity of casino gaming or interfere with the orderly gaming operations.

8. Immediately upon the receipt of a credible complaint of an alleged criminal violation of Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.), report the complaint to the Attorney General and the State Police for appropriate action.

9. Inspect and investigate, and have free access to, the offices, facilities, or other places of business of any licensee or permit holder and may compel the production of any of the books, documents, records, or memoranda of any licensee or permit holder for the purpose of ensuring compliance with Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) and Department regulations.

10. Compel any person holding a license or permit pursuant to Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) to file with the Department such information as shall appear to the Director to be necessary for the performance of the Department's functions, including financial statements and information relative to principals and all others with any pecuniary interest in such person.

11. Impose a fine or penalty not to exceed $1 million upon any person determined, in proceedings commenced pursuant to § 58.1-4105, to have violated any of the provisions of Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) or regulations promulgated by the Board.

12. Enter into arrangements with any foreign or domestic governmental agency for the purposes of exchanging information or performing any other act to better ensure the proper conduct of casino gaming operations or the efficient conduct of the Director's duties.

13. Enter into contracts for the operation of the lottery, or any part thereof, for the promotion of the lottery and into interstate lottery contracts with other states. A contract awarded or entered into by the Director shall not be assigned by the holder thereof except by specific approval of the Director.

14. Certify monthly to the State Comptroller and the Board a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements and other expenses for the preceding month.

15. Report monthly to the Governor, the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, House Committee on Finance, and House Committee on Appropriations the total lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses for the preceding month and make an annual report, which shall include a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses, as well as a separate financial statement of the expenses incurred in the regulation of casino gaming operations as defined in § 58.1-4100, to the Governor and the General Assembly. Such annual report shall also include such recommendations for changes in this chapter and Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) as the Director and Board deem necessary or desirable.

16. Report immediately to the Governor and the General Assembly any matters that require immediate changes in the laws of the Commonwealth in order to prevent abuses and evasions of this chapter and Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the lottery.

17. Notify prize winners and appropriate state and federal agencies of the payment of prizes in excess of $600 in the manner required by the lottery rules and regulations.

18. Provide for the withholding of the applicable amount of state and federal income tax of persons claiming a prize for a winning ticket in excess of $5,001.

19. Participate in the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee established pursuant to § 37.2-304 by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to enable collaboration among prevention and treatment providers and operators of legal gaming in the Commonwealth on efforts to reduce the negative effects of problem gambling.

C. The Director and the director of security or investigators appointed by the Director shall be vested with the powers of sheriff and sworn to enforce the statutes and regulations pertaining to the Department and to investigate violations of the statutes and regulations that the Director is required to enforce.

D. The Director may authorize temporary bonus or incentive programs for payments to licensed sales agents that he determines will be cost effective and support increased sales of lottery products.

1987, c. 531; 1992, cc. 422, 449; 2004, c. 630; 2006, c. 598; 2008, c. 302; 2014, c. 224; 2020, cc. 1197, 1248; 2023, cc. 588, 589.