The “Skill” Game Industry in 2025 – A Year In Review

In 2025, the presence of illegal so-called “skill” games, and the shady behavior of this predatory industry, remained a troubling constant in the Commonwealth:

• First, rather than upholding their promise to come in “the front door,” neighborhood slot machine proponents attempted to pull one over on Virginia voters by sneaking legalization of the machines in through the budget. Luckily, this back-door attempt was subverted, and “skill” games remain illegal in Virginia.
• “Skill Game Player Goes Berserk”: In Martinsville, a robbery at an illegal “skill” game den turned dangerous after a man held a store clerk at gunpoint in September.

On top of all that, Pace-O-Matic was also found negligent for the wrongful death of a Pennsylvania store clerk in 2020, after it was determined the company was failing to enact proper protections and safeguards for store employees.

Luckily, some law enforcement agencies in Virginia are taking action against this dangerous industry, and local leaders are speaking out against the proliferation of these illegal devices:

• A “skill” game bust in Colonial Heights in July resulted in the seizure of dozens of machines along with illegal narcotics.
• In August, Alexandria’s Multijurisdictional Grand Jury returned indictments against two local businesses for illegally operating “skill” games, after the two received warning letters from the Alexandria Police Department to cease operating the devices a year prior.
• And in October, eight search warrants at locations tied to “skill” games were executed in Manassas Park, leading to the seizure of over 30 machines.

A Closer Look

Neighborhood slot machines have repeatedly targeted Virginia’s economically disadvantaged communities, making it no surprise that 67 percent of residents oppose legalizing these dangerous devices across the Commonwealth. Data shows that when legal in Virginia, the “skill” game industry aggressively positioned its machines in low-income areas, placing 70 percent of games in pockets of Virginia where the average household income fell below the state median.

Experts like the National Council on Problem Gambling says “the potential long-term risks associated with underage gambling exposure cannot be understated,” and they agree with Virginia’s Council on Problem Gambling that the rollout of illegal neighborhood slot machines “undercuts the ability of self-exclusion to serve as a tool for those in [problem gambling] recovery in Virginia.” 

As the 2026 legislative session kicks-off, Virginians Against Neighborhood Slot Machines encourages legislators to reject any attempt to line Virginia’s main streets with dangerous gambling devices and keep bad actors from doing business in our Commonwealth.