Virginia legislators passed a bill (Senate Bill 212) earlier this year that would legalize and regulate slot-like skill games in the state. Governor Glenn Youngkin recently proposed major tweaks to the bill, which has some legislators frustrated.

Youngkin’s proposed changes include capping the number of skill machines in the state at 20,000 and limiting skill machine existence within 35 miles of the state’s casinos and horse racing tracks. Local governments would also have the power to ban skill games in their jurisdictions. Additionally, Youngkin wants to move the tax rate on the games from 25% to 35%.

Small businesses were the driving force behind skill game legalization, with the games often available in convenience stores and restaurants. Some legislators feel Youngkin’s changes hurt those small businesses.

“Governor Youngkin’s amendments to Senate Bill 212 are a slap in the face to thousands of Virginia small businesses in every corner of our Commonwealth,” Sen. Aaron Rouse posted on X. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and unfortunately, Governor Youngkin is putting the interests of out-of-state corporations above his own small business constituents.”

Small business protests

Monday, some Virginia small businesses stopped selling lottery tickets in protest of Youngkin’s proposed changes. The protest was organized by the Virginia Merchants and Amusement Coalition, with roughly 500 convenience stores participating.

The protest is reportedly expected to continue Tuesday, when some convenience stores will close entirely for about an hour during the late afternoon.

“Skill games are a big part of our store because, if there is no skill game, so many stores will close down,” convenience store owner Sapan Sachdeva told ABC 13 in Lynchburg.

The Virginia General Assembly is expected to reconvene Wednesday to discuss Youngkin’s bill tweaks and vetoes. Among the upcoming discussions is the skill game bill, and convenience store owners are hopeful their protests could lead to changes in their favor.

Online casino legalization was not discussed during Virginia’s 2024 legislative session.

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images