One hotly debated issue that has been highlighted during this year’s legislative session in Richmond has been the topic of skills games, which are a significant revenue generator for small businesses such as gas stations and convenience stores.
These ‘games’ look like slot machines, but as the name suggests, involve some level of skill to win.
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Skill games have been controversial for the last couple of years. In 2021, a law banning skill games in Virginia was to take effect in July, but the ban brought up questions regarding the rights of the people who had these machines in their businesses. Since then, skill game bans and injunctions have gone into effect.
Now, legislation amended by Governor Glenn Youngkin is set to make skill games legal. However, business owners say the restrictions are so strict, it’s practically a ban.
Hundreds of convenience stores like the Clearbrook Mini Mart in Roanoke County refused to sell Virginia lottery tickets on Monday in protest of the changes.
Southwest Virginia store owners explained how, as long as the machines are turned off, they’re losing revenue. They hope Monday’s protest sends a message to the Governor.
The proposed amendment is one of hundreds sent by the Governor’s team back to legislators to be debated this Wednesday during the one-day reconvene session.
