Virginia Lawmakers Determined to Ban Skill Game Machines

The latest effort to do away with the machines, which have been branded as illegal by many, and a necessary evil by business owners, was spearheaded by House majority leader Terry Kilgore who spoke to the Associated Press in an exclusive interview and detailed what the current status quo with those gambling devices in the state was.

Virginia Not Finding Legal Strength to End Machines

Kilgore confirmed that the latest attempt to push through with a bill had come a cropper and failed to get a hearing, adding that the measure is unlikely to make any tangible progress this legislative session.

Skill gaming machines are often dubbed “gray machines” as they look and play like slots, but there is no actual legislation that allows them to operate. The manufacturers of such products, and venues that host them, though, claim that these devices are hardly like slots, and rather rely on a “skill” element that exempts them from current gambling laws.

The matter has been raging on since at least 2020 when the General Assembly took a hard look at the sector and tried to suspend it altogether, with businesses pushing back that for many bars and gas stations, these machines made all the difference, especially through the pandemic.

While a ban was briefly entertained, a state judge put an injunction on the prohibition, effectively restoring the operation of regulated machines. Understandably, manufacturers have been equally vocal about their right to produce and deploy such machines, insisting that they did not break any laws.

Pushback from Both Sides Adds to Legal Headaches

The Associated Press reached out to Pace-O-Matic chief public affairs officer, Mike Barley, who said that his company was all for the regulation and taxation of skill games and remained further committed to help fight illegal gambling.

Understandably, not everyone is as happy with the machines as the company that make them. Casinos in Virginia have been particularly miffed at the proliferation of these devices, arguing that they were bad for business and the state by not contributing nearly enough tax if anything.

Worse, they were associated with problematic gambling behavior and failed to put the same safeguards in place as did regulate gambling properties. But this view has naturally been assailed by businesses that rely on these gambling machines.

Republican Sen. Bill Stanley said that the casinos simply wanted a monopoly on gambling activities. Kilgore has been the voice of reason in the matter. The lawmaker acknowledged how important skill games machines have become for the state’s small venues, but has insisted in his now-defeated measure that “mini-casinos” and “skill game rooms” should be dealt away.

Effectively, Kilgore’s bill was the most reasonable piece of legislation pitched to date in Virginia, promising to solve the conflict by protecting the interests of small business owners, but also maximizing the benefits the state gets from gambling machines – skill-based or otherwise. The matter may be moot for another year now.