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