The city of Virginia Beach is set to initiate intensive enforcement measures on electronic skill games, having announced a 30-day grace period before these new regulations take effect on November 26.
Entrepreneurs and Skill Game Patrons Navigate Severe Consequences
Often sharing a likeness with slot machines but incorporating an element of player skill, skill games have been a source of contention within Virginia since their reclassification as illegal gambling apparatuses by the General Assembly in 2020. This ruling by the Supreme Court has bolstered stricter imposition of laws regarding these games in Virginia Beach.
Under the freshly imposed law, businesses operating these games following the grace period’s conclusion could face tough penalties. Infractions may lead to civil fines that could reach $25,000 per device. In addition, individuals who continue to play these games may be subject to fines of up to $500. Those owning the machines could face criminal charges, with potentially up to 12 years prison time and fines of up to $2,500, according to local news outlet WAVY.
Many business owners, particularly those running smaller establishments, are feeling the strain of this impending crackdown. Boyd Melchor of Kelly’s Tavern, who has been outspoken in his support for skill games, has voiced his anxieties over the potential effects this could have on local businesses. He underscored the importance of these games in bolstering these small businesses.
Software company Pace-O-Matic, which has a significant stake in the development of a number of these skill games, has also spoken out on this issue. The company has communicated their desire for lawmakers to consider regulating and taxing the industry as a potentially beneficial move for small businesses and local tax revenue. Despite the recent court ruling, Pace-O-Matic remains optimistic for future regulatory measures that could benefit both businesses and their respective communities.
A State of Suspense Prevails as Businesses and Players Await the November 26 Cut-Off
While the extended grace period provides a temporary relief, the prospect of the looming enforcement measures has stirred up anxiety among business operators and players. Amy Brewer, a single mother who frequents Kelly’s Tavern to enjoy these games, shared her fear of losing the extra income she gets from these games.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in Virginia Beach has put forth a public announcement, making it clear that skill games equate to illegal gambling. As the dreaded November 26 deadline draws closer, both businesses and players are girding themselves for the potential consequences of these new regulations on their livelihoods and leisure activities.
Virginia is far from being the only US state grappling with the complexity of skill game machines. Nebraska is currently wrestling with a speedy rise in these slot-like machines’ prevalence in areas like convenience stores and bars, with a sizable number of 4,752 machines spread across nearly 1,600 retail locations statewide.
The rapid proliferation has sound alarms among lawmakers, gambling addiction therapists, and casino managers, with increasing worry over issues such as addiction and underage gambling. At the same time, other US states like Pennsylvania, for instance, are also grappling with similar issues related to the regulation of analogous video gaming machines, igniting debates and legal proceedings regarding their regulation and effect on the gambling sector overall.
