Virginia has taken a decisive step toward modernizing its charitable gaming framework with the passage of VA HB396. This is known as the bill aimed at standardizing how Texas Hold’em poker tournaments are conducted by nonprofit organizations. As of January 28, 2026, the legislation cleared the Virginia House of Delegates with overwhelming bipartisan support, passing by an 88–8 vote.
At its core, HB396 clarifies long-standing ambiguities in Virginia charitable gaming laws, specifically addressing how charity-driven Texas Hold’em tournaments should be defined, operated, and regulated. While poker fundraisers have grown in popularity across the state, inconsistent interpretations of tournament rules, age requirements, and financial safeguards have created compliance challenges for nonprofits.
The bill comes at a time when celebrity charity poker events, like the one hosted by Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, have drawn attention to charitable poker as a fundraising tool. As these events scale, lawmakers are moving to clearly define the legal boundaries to ensure transparency, consumer protection, and the integrity of charitable proceeds.
One of the most impactful changes under HB396 is the adjustment to participant eligibility. The bill raises the Texas Hold’em tournament age limit from 18 to 21 years old. This aligns charitable poker more closely with other regulated gaming activities in the Commonwealth.
Venue restrictions are also tightened. This means that qualified nonprofit organizations may no longer host tournaments outside their registered county or directly adjoining localities. It is a measure designed to prevent large-scale, roaming poker events that blur the line between charity gaming and commercial gambling.
Additionally, the legislation introduces stricter controls around alcohol sales. Charity poker tournaments are now prohibited at venues holding an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license unless the nonprofit organization itself is the licensed entity. This provision aims to reduce regulatory overlap and potential compliance risks tied to alcohol service and gaming operations.
A key objective of HB396 is to eliminate uncertainty around gameplay standards. The bill formally adopts the Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA) rules, ensuring uniform hand rankings, betting procedures, and dispute resolution across all sanctioned events.
Under the updated charity poker tournament rules, participants must pay a fixed entry fee in exchange for a predetermined number of chips. Once those chips are exhausted, the player is eliminated unless they qualify for a rebuy under the bill’s narrowly defined conditions.
Financial controls are equally explicit. Nonprofits are limited to accepting cash or checks only, with the extension of credit or use of debit and credit cards strictly prohibited. This safeguard is intended to reinforce responsible gaming practices while simplifying financial oversight for regulators.
HB396 also introduces clarity around rebuys and add-ons. These are two areas that have historically generated compliance questions. Under the new framework, unlimited rebuys are permitted only during the first two hours of play or until the first scheduled break, whichever comes first. A rebuy is allowed only if a participant has lost all chips or holds less than their original starting stack.
The bill further restricts players to one add-on per tournament, available exclusively at the end of the rebuy period and only to participants who still have chips in play. These poker rebuy and add-on regulations ensure tournaments remain structured competitions rather than open-ended fundraising mechanisms.
For large-scale charity events offering sponsorship packages, often ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars, these rules reinforce the distinction between charitable donations and regulated gaming activity, protecting both organizers and beneficiaries.
While HB396 imposes stricter operational requirements, it does not restrict nonprofits from partnering with third-party operators to manage tournaments, provided all fees remain within limits set by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Ultimately, the passage of VA HB396 signals a shift toward greater consistency, transparency, and accountability in charitable gaming. As poker-based fundraisers continue to provide meaningful financial support for causes ranging from pediatric cancer care to community services, Virginia lawmakers are drawing clearer lines to ensure those benefits are delivered responsibly and legally, well into the future.
