Virginia lawmakers are remaining silent amidst a situation that is causing a great deal of commotion.
Virginia General Assembly officials continue to remain tight-lipped about the ongoing legal dispute surrounding skill game machines and their validity in the state. It remains unclear whether the games are being discussed as part of the ongoing special session on Virginia’s budget, as legislators have refrained from commenting on the matter.
Skill games guessing in Virginia
Legislators in Virginia are hesitant to disclose their plans for skill games in the future. In response to inquiries, House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, who represents Virginia Beach, informed the Virginia Mercury that the topic is still under consideration.
“Let’s keep ’em guessing.”
However, for some Virginia taxpayers, their primary concern lies in understanding the potential impact on their livelihood rather than engaging in a speculative activity.
Former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler, a resident and business owner in Virginia, has taken the state to court in an effort to reverse the skill game ban imposed in July 2021. Sadler, who owns the Travel Plaza in Emporia, Va., is particularly affected by this prohibition as his establishment currently houses eight of these machines.
According to Sadler, the Cardinal News was informed that he leases the space to individuals operating the machines, receiving a portion of their earnings as compensation. Sadler’s family manages the truck stop, as well as two convenience stores and a restaurant. Overall, they oversee approximately 41 machines.
David vs. Goliath
Sadler perceives the skill games fight as a modern-day David versus Goliath tale, where the dominant casinos enter the scene and push out the smaller establishments.
State Senator Bill Stanley, a lawyer representing him, successfully had the scheduled May 18 hearing postponed to November 2. Consequently, the court injunction obtained by Sadler in late 2020, which had delayed the implementation of a ban on skill game machines scheduled for July 2021, will continue to be in effect.
Sadler expressed on social media that the delay would ultimately assist proponents in better preparing for the opposition they face. This will hold especially true if lawmakers eventually decide to regulate the games during the budget special sessions.
To legalize or not to legalize
According to Sadler’s reasoning, advocates of skill game machines argue that these games offer an opportunity for average individuals to participate in the online gaming industry. Despite their resemblance to slot machines, proponents contend that skill game machines differ as they involve a certain level of skill in winning, rather than relying solely on luck like a spin. Therefore, they assert that these machines should not be classified as gambling devices.
In addition, proponents of the ban are accused by supporters of attempting to channel more funds towards the prominent gaming industry. Conversely, these critics assert that labeling these games as skill-based is merely a means to legitimize illegal machines through a legal loophole.
Temporary ban pause causes confusion
The current pause on the ban solely applies to skills games that were already deemed fully legal prior to the ban in July 2021. Consequently, there has been a great deal of uncertainty regarding what activities are considered legal under the injunction.
According to Amanda Jarratt, the City Manager of Franklin, she expressed to the Virginia Mercury that the situation has caused absolute disorder. Currently, there are no governing bodies responsible for overseeing these machines. Consequently, Jarratt mentioned that in the event of machine malfunctions, there is no designated point of contact.
The General Assembly would still need to approve the inclusion of a provision for skill games in the budget before the end of the fiscal year on June 30, if lawmakers decide to include it.
The future of skill games in Virginia is uncertain, and it is difficult to predict how they will perform until further developments.
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