VA Senate Gaming Subcommittee Exposes Scope of Illegal “Skill” Game Problem

In case you missed this morning’s enlightening Senate General Laws Gaming Subcommittee meeting, here’s what you need to know:

1. “Skill” game proponents admitted there are currently 90,000 illegal “skill” game machines operating across Virginia. Despite that, they are still coming before the General Assembly to ask for the authorization of 35,000 neighborhood slot machines.(To put this in perspective, that is equivalent to more than 20 casinos worth of slot machines.)
   
2. As pointed out by Senator Adam Ebbin, the proposed bill does not require ID verification to play. Instead, its protection against underage play comes up short with nothing more than a sticker stating “don’t play if you’re not 21.”
   
3. When pressed by Senator Jeremy McPike, proponents admitted that a player winning just $0.20 on a $5.00 bet would be considered “successful”… a 96 percent profit certainly makes the “skill” game industry a winner.

The question Virginia lawmakers need to be asking is, why should the Commonwealth reward an industry that is knowingly operating an illicit gambling empire in Virginia’s most vulnerable communities?

Voters have already made their position clear: 67 percent oppose these machines and it’s now time for our elected officials to listen to their constituents, not shady operators.

This year, Virginia lawmakers must reject any legalization efforts on behalf of shady neighborhood slot machines and enforce the existing, bipartisan ban on their operation.   Virginia has had enough with the predatory business practices of the so-called skill game industry.