Over 80 Virginia Faith Leaders Sign onto Letter Opposing the Legalization of Skill Games in the Commonwealth

This letter was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on February 4, 2024.

Since then, over 80 additional faith leaders have signed on.

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Dear Members of the General Assembly:

As faith leaders from across the commonwealth, we are deeply aware of the struggles and triumphs our communities experience. People are crying out for many things, but gambling in every gas station, convenience store, restaurant and rest stop is not one of them.

Virginians must stand up against exploitative slot-like gambling machines and ensure lawmakers keep them permanently and totally banned from our great commonwealth.

In 2020, and then again in 2022, the Virginia General Assembly made these machines illegal. However, a grace period was extended during 2021 that delayed the enforcement of this ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During that time, the number of these machines in our state doubled, putting far too many Virginians at risk. Unfortunately, if legislators succeed in legalizing them this time around, there is the potential for over 90,000 machines to pop up in every corner of our commonwealth.

The business model of “gray” machines is built on economically exploiting our communities’ most vulnerable people. This pattern holds true in other states as well. A recent study in Illinois found a direct correlation between financial stress in a community and the number of gambling machines packed into the area.

Slot-like machines are commonly found in gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores, bars, rest stops and other locations that Virginians frequent in their day-to-day lives. They are a breeding ground for developing problem gamblers, and their widespread accessibility makes them hard for those who are most vulnerable to avoid even when running their daily errands.

Unlike other brick-and-mortar gaming establishments, residents do not have the opportunity to decide for themselves whether the devices are right for their community. Unlike going to a casino, Virginians do not have the option to never go into gas stations or convenience stores.

And unlike establishing a casino, there is no local referendum that gives the public a say. A vote by legislators to legalize these machines is a vote to bring gambling machines into every corner of the commonwealth, whether Virginians want it or not.

These machines have already been deemed illegal by the Virginia Supreme Court. Legislation by the General Assembly would undo that decision.

To those who say we need gambling machines everywhere in the commonwealth because we cannot afford to “lose” the tax revenue potential: the decisions we make as Virginians in how to fund our government reflect our priorities as a society. If we desire increased government revenue to pay for priorities like health care and education, we should not shackle these essential programs to the existence of gambling machines in every neighborhood across the commonwealth.

The economic well-being, safety, priorities and morality of the commonwealth are not a game. We urge our policymakers to reject any effort to legalize these reckless and exploitative slot-like machines.

Signed,

Rev. Douglas Forrester

Valley Ridge District, United Methodist Church Roanoke

Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link

Second Presbyterian Church Roanoke

Dr. David N. Wright, Sr.

Community Church of God in Christ Richmond

Victoria Cobb

Family Foundation Richmond

And the below faith leaders from across the state:

Rev. Dr. Archana Samuel

Wesley United Methodist Church Hampton

Rev. Susie Thomas
Farmville United Methodist Church
Staunton

Rev. Jonathan Greer
Cherryvale United Methodist Church
Staunton

Rev. Charles House Cole Jr.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Staunton

Rev. Susan Worrell
United Methodist Church Valley Ridge District, Retired
Glen Allen

Rev. Pamela Anderson
United Methodist Church, Richmond District
Goochland

Rev. Bradley S. Dulaney
Blacksburg United Methodist Church
Blacksburg

Rev. Heather Wray
Leesburg United Methodist Church
Blacksburg

Rev. Anne M. Sisson
Shenandoah Charge United Methodist Church
Shenandoah

Rev. Eileen Gilmer
Greenville United Methodist Church
Greenville

Rev. Dee Pendley
Retired
Fauquier

Rev. Linda Driver Ray
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Odessa, DE

Rev. Melody Duncan
Epworth United Methodist Church
Norfolk

Rev. Mary K. Dadisman
Bridgewater United Methodist Church
Bridgewater

Rev. Jenelle Watson
Embrace Centers for Community
Waynesboro

Mr. Ian Carolos Urriola
Chaplain at Shenandoah University
Winchester

Rev. John Hemming
Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church
Vinton

Rev. Jonathan Fuller
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond

Rev. Ben Horrocks
Centenary United Methodist Church
Lynchburg

Rev. Michael Maxwell
New Life United Methodist Church
Richmond

Rev. Kirk Nave
Braddock Street United Methodist Church
Winchester

Rev. Pamela Gable
Retired Methodist Clergy

Rev. Brett Isernhagen
Mt. Crawford Charge United Methodist Church
Mt. Crawford

Rev. Elizabeth Givens
Haygood United Methodist Church
Virginia Beach

Rev. Bob Parks
Retired, Serving Bethany United Methodist Church
Richmond

Rev. Max Blalock
Wesley Campus Ministry
Williamsburg

Rev. Bryan Buckles

Central United Methodist Church Salem

Rev. Jim Harris
Retired United Methodist Clergy
Staunton

Rev. Barbara Lewis
Fletcher’s Chapel United Methodist Church
King George

Rev. Robin BeMiller
New Hope United Methodist Church
Fredericksburg

Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert
District Superintendent, Northern Virginia District
Fairfax

Rev. Morris V. Fleischer
Newport-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church
Giles County

Rev. Dr. Patricia Shipley
Centenary United Methodist Church, Retired
Richmond

Rev. Anita Laffoon
Ginter Park Baptist Church
Richmond

Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Jones
Retired United Methodist Clergy
Alexandria

Pastor James E. Alexander Jr.
Next Phase Church
Henrico

Rev. Peter M. Moon
Reveille United Methodist Clergy
Richmond

Rev. Dr. David M. Hindman
Retired United Methodist Clergy
Williamsburg

Rev. Wm R. “Mac” McKenney
Good Shepherd UMC
Dale City

Rev. Rob Vaughn
Retired United Methodist Clergy
Ashland

Rev. William Bearden
Collierstown United Methodist Church
Lexington

Rev. Will Archer
Potomac Valley Church
Prince William

Rev. Hollie E. Woodruff
Seventh Street Christian Church
Richmond

Rev. Valerie W. Ritter
Pisgah-Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
Tazewell

Rev. Sandra Wright
Virginia United Methodist Conference
Stuarts Draft

Rev. Donna Holder
Westover Hills United Methodist Church
Richmond

Rev. Catherine D. Hicks
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Port Royal

Bishop Peter D. Weaver
United Methodist Church
Williamsburg

Rev. Jeffrey Witt
Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church
Virginia Beach

Rev. Katie Gooch
Campus Pastor, The Pace Center
Richmond

Rev. Kate Fielder
Second Presbyterian
Richmond

Rev. Amy Redwine
First Presbyterian
Richmond

Rev. Lauren Geraghty

Springfield United Methodist Church Springfield

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haugh
Vale United Methodist Church
Fairfax

Dr. Art Thomas
United Methodist Elder & Professor, Wesley Theological Seminary
Richmond

Rev. Mike Mayton
Bon Air United Methodist Church
Chesterfield

Rev. Darlene Wilkins
Shenandoah River District, Retired
Shenandoah

Rev. Donna B. Smith
Lebanon United Methodist Church
Jarratt

Rev. Maxine Crenshaw
Amissville United Methodist Church
Rappahannock

Rev. Josh Munnikhuysen
Trinity United Methodist Church
Orange

Rev. Sue Ann Ely Salmon
Retired United Methodist Clergy

Rev. Christopher Watson
Rehoboth United Methodist Church
Caroline

Dr. David F. Upshaw
Concord Baptist Church
Caroline

Rev. Dave Rochford
Williamsburg United Methodist Church
Williamsburg

Rev. Charles Tillapaugh
Wright’s Chapel United Methodist
Caroline

Ms. Scotty Doyle
Ramsey Memorial United Methodist Church
Midlothian

Rev. Gregory Bezilla
Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Richmond

Rev. Gilbert Garcia
Mt. Tabor Baptist
Caroline

Rev. Jim Sommerville
Richmond’s First Baptist Church
Richmond

Rev. Joanna Paysour
Greene Memorial United Methodist Church
Roanoke

Rev. Taylor Mertins
Raleigh Court United Methodist Church
Roanoke

Rev. Lauren Lobenhofer
Cave Spring United Methodist Church
Roanoke

Rev. Lance Presley
Asbury United Methodist Church
Christiansburg

Allan Charles Chipman
Initiatives of Change USA
Richmond

Mickey Robertson
Warsaw Baptist
Richmond County

Rev. Josh Andrzejewski
First Presbyterian
Richmond

Nathan Mwenda
Counselor, YMCA of Greater Richmond
Richmond