(Richmond) — Skill game machines could soon be illegal in Danville. That’s if state lawmakers next week adopt amendments to their bill that legalized the machines while setting up a regulatory framework and tax structure for the games in Virginia.
Earlier this week, Governor Glenn Youngkin made an eleventh-hour amendment to the measure. He wants to prevent any machine within 35 miles of a casino or a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. That would include all of Danville and most of Pittsylvania County. It would also include Martinsville and South Boston.
Youngkin also wants to give localities the option of banning the games on their own, by a municipal vote or a voter referendum. Instead of Virginia ABC, the skill game industry would be regulated by the Virginia Lottery. There could also be no skill games near schools, day care centers or places of worship. Youngkin also wants to set a total cap of 20,000 games statewide.
Convenience stores hosting skill game machines would have to get a $9,000 one-time license, and pay a $750 annual fee for each game unit. Truck stops would have to pay a $21,000 licensing fee and could have no more than seven games.
Four years ago, state lawmakers outlawed skill games. That law was challenged by former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler, who owns Truck Stops in Emporia. A Greensville County judge last year rejected the suit.
Pittsylvania County resumed enforcing the ban on skill games November 20th. All machines approved by the state before the summer of 2021 could legally operate. There were 16 convenience stores in the county that had such skill game machines. Danville Police resumed enforcement of the ban in December.
The machines have been a sore spot the past few years for planners in Danville and Pittsylvania County. The games began appearing five years ago inside local convenience stores and similar venues. Local planners struggled to develop regulations governing the machines, while simultaneously waiting for guidance from state lawmakers on the legality of such machines. A delay in the lawsuit in Greensville County also left local planners in a lurch for more than a year.
Two years ago, Danville City Council changed the code to classify skills games as “adult-oriented entertainment,” instead of “commercial recreation.” The restrictions would limit possible locations for skill game machines to only four parts of the city. This came after concerns from local residents about neighboring property values, traffic and operating hours.
Two months ago, the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill lifting the ban on the machines. Senator Aaron Rouse says those machines would bring in $200 million a year.
“By supporting the most vulnerable small businesses in our Commonwealth, we’re supporting the little guy,” Rouse told the Committee. “This is something we can all get behind.”
Under the bill, six percent of revenues would go to the Virginia ABC. 15% of gross revenues would go to the state. Convenience stores could have no more than five terminals and truck stops could have up to ten.
“Virginia has opened the door to gaming. The lottery, sports betting, historical horse racing, charitable gaming,” Rouse said during the floor debate on his bill. “Its time that we allow skill games a chance to compete.”
The House and Senate each passed the measure by comfortable margins.
Danville Delegate Danny Marshall says he’ll support the Governor’s amendments. Marshall has opposed previous efforts to allow skill games in Virginia. “Skill games did not come to General Assembly with a bill to allow them,” Marshall said. “They just showed up all over the state with no oversight.”
State lawmakers will vote on the Governor’s amendments when they meet in Richmond April 17th for the annual Veto Session.
