Governor Glenn Youngkin has just days to act on a bill that would legalize controversial skill games, which are often compared to slot machines, before lawmakers return to Richmond on April 17.
Lawmakers last month approved the legislation to authorize and tax skill games machines throughout the commonwealth, which proponents ague are distinct from gambling because the outcome is partially determined by a player’s skill. Critics argue they are functionally the same as slot machines.
While Youngkin has vetoed hundreds of bills, often those reflecting Democratic priorities including gun control and marijuana, he has yet to act on the skill games bill.
The lack of action led some to view the legislation as a possible indication of Youngkin’s motivations, with an analyst telling 8 News a veto would suggest the governor is “going to go his own way” during the remainder of his time in office.
That report followed speculation by The Washington Post that Youngkin could veto the skill games bill as retribution for the defeat of his arena project at the hands of Democrats in the General Assembly.
Delegate Mark Earley (R-Chesterfield) recently discussed the legislation during an appearance on The John Fredericks Show.
Earley told John Fredericks, the publisher of The Virginia Star on Tuesday, “I hope the governor vetoes it. I don’t think it has anything to do with retribution, I think it should just be on the merits.”
The lawmaker pushed back on claims by proponents that allowing and taxing skill games would bring needed revenue to Virginia.
“Of course we need revenue for things,” acknowledged Earley, “but you don’t do things that are bad for the people of the commonwealth just for money.”
He explained, “This is putting gambling on every single corner, in every gas station. There’s no way to keep kids off it, there’s no enforcement mechanism.”
Earley previously wrote to the social media platform X, “The ‘skill games’ bill barely made it through the General Assembly, over my objections. I hope the governor will veto this bill.”
He argued, “We don’t need gambling machines in every corner store in VA.”
Thanks @jfradioshow for having me on this morning.
The “skill games” bill barely made it through the General Assembly, over my objections. I hope the Governor will veto this bill.
We don’t need gambling machines in every corner store in VA. https://t.co/Jl3jMGRwUh
— Mark Earley (@earley4delegate) March 5, 2024
Youngkin could also cite concerns about political donations by Pace-o-Matic, a business that sells skill games, which recently drew media attention due to the $1,900 it donated to State Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Fredericksburg).
On Monday, Orange County Review reported Pace-o-Matic hosted “hundreds of guests in Wyoming at Cheyenne Frontier Days, a multi-day festival of bull-riding, horse roping, food and music,” and though the outlet reported Reeves was spotted at the event, it explained that “campaign finance paperwork gave no indication where Reeves went on the dime of a company that has extensively lobbied the General Assembly for permission to put slot machine lookalikes” across the commonwealth.
Similarly, while State Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) previously opposed skill games in Virginia in 2019, she voted in favor of the 2024 skill games legislation after she received $20,000 from Pace-o-Matic in 2023.
Lucas explained in February that she “did further research” on the matter and claimed to change her mind after learning skill games would not hurt Virginia’s casinos.
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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].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Governor of Virginia.
