Virginia considers a major expansion of gambling by legalizing 'skill games'

Dueling Virginia legislative proposals backed by different gambling companies would open the door for an expansion of slot-like betting machines in businesses such as truck stops, restaurants and convenience stores

RICHMOND, Va. -- Dueling legislative proposals in Virginia backed by different gambling companies would open the door for an expansion of slot-like betting machines in businesses such as truck stops, restaurants and convenience stores.

At the center of the debate are “gray machines," arcade-style games that look similar to slot machines but involve an element of skill, manufacturers say.

For years, the machines have proliferated as policymakers grapple with how to regulate them amid a big-money lobbying fight featuring stiff casino industry opposition to the devices, also known as skill games. They are currently prohibited in Virginia under a ban passed in 2020.

Now, a well-organized coalition, including one of the state's most powerful legislators and retail owners who host the machines and share in their profits, is backing one of this year's proposals to legalize and tax the devices. Virginia is not the only state grappling with skill games, but the efforts there reflect points in a larger debate nationwide as they have exploded in popularity.

“This is a small-business issue, and one that impacts many first-generation Americans trying to achieve the American dream,” said bill sponsor Sen. Aaron Rouse, a Democrat from Virginia Beach.