VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach residents are expected to gather at Mom’s Kitchen in Virginia Beach to send a message to Governor Glenn Youngkin as part of "two days of action" to keep the original version of Senate Bill 212 in effect in Virginia.
Their message?
Bring skill games back to small businesses in Hampton Roads.
Going back in time a little bit. Skilled gaming machines started popping up in Virginia a few years ago. Lawmakers voted to ban them in 202, and the law took effect in 2021. There's been several legal challenges to the law, with it going all the way to the state Supreme Court. They upheld the ban and essentially turned off the machines last year.
Now, lawmakers have passed a new bill to legalize them again, but Youngkin is pushing back.
Last week, Youngkin proposed some amendments to the bipartisan skill games bill that already passed through the state’s House and Senate. He wants to add a provision saying these machines cannot be within 35 miles of a casino or horse racing track.
With a casino in Portsmouth and a horse racing track in New Kent County, this provision would bar a lot of Hampton Roads communities from installing skill games.
Another amendment would increase the tax rate on profits from skill games to 35%.
The discussion was held by Republican State Senator, Bill DeSteph. Even though he's in the same party as Youngkin, he disagrees with the amendments.
“I’ve talked to a couple of business owners who say these skill games basically pay the rent, which allows me to maintain everything else I’m doing. Pay my staff a bit better, and it’s allowed me the opportunity to keep prices low," he said.
News
Skilled gaming machines can't be near casinos, Youngkin proposes
This is an issue that transcends party lines.
Last week, Democratic State Senator Aron Rouse called the amendment a “slap in the face.”
Watch previous coverage: Skilled gaming machines can't be near casinos, Youngkin proposes
The Virginia Merchants and Amusements Coalition echoes the feelings of these politicians.
On Monday, some convenience stores stopped the sale of lottery tickets in an attempt to show the impact of what could happen to the state revenue if these businesses close down. On Tuesday, they plan on closing down hundreds of stores from 3:50p.m. to 4:50p.m.
For Lara Rabi, owner of Mom's Kitchen, she feels betrayed. When Youngkin ran for Governor he held a rally outside Mom's Kitchen, and pledged his support for small businesses. Now she feels like he's changed his tune.
“Now during the day people don’t come as much. We’ve probably lost about two to three hundred customers since then,” she said.
DeSteph said at the discussion that he planned on calling Youngkin after the meeting to talk about the event, and what residents in Virginia Beach think of his proposals.
