The office of Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) provided The Virginia Star with a copy of a letter written in response to a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers who requested the governor seek a delay on enforcement of the state’s ban on skill games.
After the Virginia Supreme Court reversed a stay on skill games in October, which are similar to slot machines but purportedly require skill to operate, 11 legislators sent a joint letter to Youngkin on November 7. The lawmakers informed Youngkin of their intention to regulate the machines in the upcoming legislative session, and according to Richmond Times-Dispatch, asked Youngkin to direct authorities to delay enforcement of the ban until the assembly could act.
Delegates Terry Kilgore (R-Wise), Rob Bloxom (R-Accomack), Mark Sickles (D-Franconia), Michael Webert (R-Fauquier), and Tony Wilt (R-Rockingham) were joined by Virginia Senators Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico), Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), Richard Stuart (R-King George), Travis Hackworth (R-Tazewell), and Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach) in the letter.
In response to an inquiry from The Star, Youngkin provided the response he sent to lawmakers on November 20, which noted the law banning the machines was determined “constitutional and enforceable” by “[t]wo courts, including the Supreme Court of Virginia.”
The governor noted in his letter that “prosecutorial decisions are primarily for the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney in each jurisdiction,” and noted his previous declarations that “Commonwealth’s Attorneys should not pick and choose which laws to prosecute.”
Without mentioning action from Virginia’s executive branch, the governor thanked the lawmakers for “letting me know your plans to address this issue,” and wrote that he looks “forward to considering any legislation” lawmakers may pass.
Youngkin provided the letter to The Star following a report from The Virginian-Pilot that profiled local businesses who are removing the machines to comply with Virginia law, revealing the financial blow some say it will deal. The outlet explained that businesses with the skill games retain 40 percent of profit brought in by the devices.
In another bid for relief, more than 100 local business owners, joined by local business associations, sent a letter to the Virginia General Assembly on November 14to “prioritize the future of small businesses” in Virginia “by regulating and taxing skill games” in the upcoming legislative session. Further, the business owners suggested that some of the tax revenue gained from the machines “should be used to eliminate the illegal gambling market in operation across Virginia.”
“The revenue from skill games has kept many afloat,” the business owners revealed in their letter, saying the machines allowed them “to keep people employed and maintain an increasingly narrow profit margin.” They warned that the loss of skill games in Virginia will force many of the signatories to “lay off employees” or close entirely.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
