Government | Politics 2023: KELLY T. GEE

Editor’s note: Gee was appointed secretary of the commonwealth Aug. 29, after the Virginia 500 print deadline. She was selected for the 2023 Virginia 500 list based on her prior position as the Virginia Lottery’s executive director. 

Director of the state lottery since June 2022, Gee leads an agency that generated $3.75 billion in sales and $779.6 million in profits in fiscal year 2022 — both record numbers.

In addition to selling lottery tickets, the agency is responsible for oversight of online sports betting in the commonwealth as well as Virginia’s three commercial casinos in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth. A fourth casino in Norfolk is still in planning stages, and Richmond voters are about to take a second swing at a casino referendum this fall. A state report last fall predicted that total wagering could grow to $21 billion by 2025, when four casinos are expected to be open.

Gee has been with the lottery since 2018, previously serving as its manager of government relations. She earned her undergraduate degree in government from William & Mary and her master’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech.

Prior to joining the Virginia Lottery, Gee spent nearly a decade working in state politics. She served as deputy chief of staff for former Republican Speaker of the House Kirk Cox and was also a legislative associate for consulting firm Stateside Associates.