“SKILL” GAMES LEFT OUT OF THE VIRGINA BUDGET

Today, the Virginia General Assembly passed a budget that excluded language to legalize deceptive convenience store slot machines with bipartisan support – defeating the attempt by special interests to sneak “skill” games in through the back door.

This decision by lawmakers sends a clear message: bad actors are not welcome to do business in our communities. Virginians Against Neighborhood Slot Machines will continue to stand strong against these predatory machines and we express our thanks to the lawmakers who have supported this effort.

VANSM coalition members have also commented on this victory for Virginia:

Rhena Hicks, Co-Executive Director, Freedom Virginia

“The General Assembly has created a budget to guarantee a more fair and affordable economy that ensures Virginians can get ahead. We’re pleased that the General Assembly rejected corporate tax schemes like so-called “skill” slot machines that shady special interests had fought hard to include in the budget. Those games are a regressive tax on hardworking people, and we believe the legislature should focus on more fair and sustainable ways to generate much-needed revenue.”

Mitch Rubenstein, State Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Virginia Chapter

“The Veterans of Foreign Wars is grateful to lawmakers for standing against the influx of tens of thousands of predatory convenience store slot machines in Virginia. Legalizing 30,000 of these so-called “skill” slot machines in every corner store in Virginia would damage the legal fundraising efforts of veterans’ service organizations, like the VFW.”

Virginia Moose Association

“Today the General Assembly put Virginians above special interests. Thank you to the bipartisan coalition of members of the General Assembly in both chambers that rejected the attempt to legalize 30,000 predatory street corner gambling machines through the budget.”

Victoria Cobb, President, Family Foundation

“The Family Foundation continues to support the ban on so-called skill gaming in Virginia and we are glad to see that language to legalize these machines was left out of the budget that passed both chambers today. Our communities are safer without deceptive gambling machines tempting our young people and bringing crime to our communities.

Rich Gozka, Southern States Police Benevolent Association

“Skill” games are proven to be hotspots for criminal activity and feeding grounds for gambling addiction. As law enforcement continues to enforce the existing ban on these illegal machines, we are grateful the General Assembly has voted to maintain this law by removing language that would rapidly expand this type of gaming from the budget.”

Derrick Max, President, Thomas Jefferson Institute

“It is now well-documented that “skill” games target low-income and minority communities and leach off important and established revenue streams. Attempts to legalize these devices this legislative session would have unleashed tens of thousands of the machines into the backyards of Virginia’s poorest neighborhoods and compromised critical education dollars. We are glad to see these machines left out of the budget that passed the Assembly today.”

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