Legislators Reject Youngkin's Skill Games Limits
Will skill game machines that look similar to slot machines come back to a convenience store? Not quite yet, but legislators put businesses in position have those machines to return if the Governor decides to take no action.
In a bipartisan measure, Democrats and Republicans rejected the Governor’s amendments on skill games. The Senate's vote was decisively in favor, enough to override a veto should Governor Youngkin choose to roll the dice and use his veto powers. The bill did not come before the House where the legislators narrowly voted in favor but did not have enough votes to override a potential veto in a vote earlier this year.
The coalition in support of these skill machines games look like a checkerboard of blue and red. Republicans like Delegate Jerry Kilgore who acknowledge that that revenue from these games will fund highways in western Virginia and give teachers raises. Democrats like Senator Saddam Salim from Fairfax said that for some store owners that, skill games saved their business during Covid-19 pandemic. “All these are folks that came to our nation for an opportunity. And for us to say that we gave you that opportunity, but we want to restrict that opportunity, we are going to see a lot of issues.”
A Republican voice against the amendments from Youngkin is Senator Bill Stanley has stated that small businesses with skill games are treated like they are “more dangerous by law than methadone clinics according to the Governor’s amendments.”
One opponent against skill games is a group called Virginians Against Neighborhood Slot Machines. Conservative radio host John Fredericks describes them as a coalition of law enforcement, faith, and community leaders. The cops and clergy have gone hand and hand to produce ads against skill games. Those ads feature scary commercials that seem familiar with negative attack ads during election season. Further exploration of their YouTube channel shows interviews from Victoria Cobb and Todd Gathje of the Family Foundation, the same anti-trans and anti-abortion group that recently warned that legal market to cannabis would result in a “pot shop on every block.”
The Family Foundation is not alone with their opposition to skill game machines. Another group working with them in their opposition to gambling is casinos. In an interview with Graham Moomaw of the Virginia Mercury, Chris Cylke from the American Gaming Association said that skill games lack oversight, age verification, consumer protections, and security.
Skill games in convenience stores had a large push from store owners that lobbied during the General Assembly’s regular session. Many of those lobbying for these skill games are part of Virginia’s community of Asian Americans.
On Wednesday morning, skill game supporters lined up outside the Capitol Square to greet legislators and encourage them to reject the Governor's amendments including Diffaa Seleh of the Yemeni American Association of Richmond who led the group in chants. Seleh wore a suit while many others wore the yellow shirts that read “Keep Skill Games Help Small Businesses.” Throughout the day, the General Assembly had these bright shirts lighting up the galley.
Another major player is Pace-O-Matic, the company that owns the machines in question. The company engages in lobbying for legislation. This corporation based on Duluth, Georgia is far from a small business. According to VPAP, Pace-O-Matic has spent over a half million in political contributions in 2023. Back in February, Pace-O-Matic sponsored the charity basketball game at the Siegel Center with Senators, Delegates, and even Governor Glenn Youngkin wearing shirts with the Pace-O-Matic logo.
Pace-O-Matic’s relationships with legislators including Senator Bryce Reeves receiving a free trip to a rodeo in Wyoming. That trip is legal for a Virginia State Senator to receive but instead something that the Senator has not been forthcoming. (If Pace-O-Matic is reading this, I would gladly accept a free rodeo trip and would proudly tell people about it.)
In a statement from Governor Youngkin’s press Secretary Christian Martinez, “The Governor supports small business owners having access to skill games and his proposed legislative amendments, stemming from discussions with a bipartisan group of members and dozens of outside stakeholders, would establish an important regulatory framework, enhance consumer and public safety protections, and grant localities and Virginians a voice.”
The Governor’s office also lists how the taxation of would work but did not mention how it would restrict store owners in areas that would not qualify, like with the complaints from Senator Bill Stanley.
What is not included in this much of this debate is the predatory nature of the industry. Delegate Rae Cousins who represents Richmond's Northside voted against the skill games machines back in March. “It’s been a hot topic among my constituents. They’re typical located in low-income areas which I think is predatory.” Cousins said in opposing the bill. “The amendments still don’t account for the enforcement that we need or that I’ll be comfortable with.”
Not only are the gambling machines addictive to players but the stores are also preyed upon. These store operators gambled with installing skill game machines and now the future of their business is dependent on legislation that would allow them to operate those machines.
Looking into skill games took me on a lot a twists and turns. I originally thought it was going to be the little guys versus the big guys. Like minority owned small business against a large network of white evangelist conservatives. Instead, I found out it to be the skills game company named Pace-O-Matic to be competing against a network of casinos with convenience store owners against religious leaders as the public face.
One thing I learned about gambling, the easiest way to not lose is never bet what you can’t afford to pay.
