Virginia Governor declares need for commission to oversee statewide gambling
The state banned skill games in October 2023.
Key Points
- Casino gambling was legalized in 2020, but skill games that were once legal or no longer permitted
- The governor said he is not interested in pursuing bills that would bring back skill games
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has expressed a desire to create “a consolidated commission” that would oversee statewide gambling activities, according to a WKTR News 3 local report.
Despite recent efforts to loosen restrictions on skill gaming machines, the governor “signaled his hesitancy” to allow these devices to operate in Virginia.
Youngkin told locals news that he is “not interested in progressing any of those kinds of bills.”
During his recent State of the Commonwealth address, the governor mentioned creating a consolidated commission.
He said in a statement, “Let’s work together on other issues where we can find common ground. One of those issues is gaming.
“We must take action to enable the creation of the Virginia Gaming Commission to consolidate the regulatory oversight of our vast gaming ecosystem under one entity.”
The state of Virginia first welcomed casino gambling in 2020, after a lengthy legal process. Since opening the state to casino gambling, Caesars Virginia is the third casino to take up residence within Virginia’s borders.
Skill games are typically available in convenience stores, delis, restaurants and bars.
Virginia first passed a law banning skill game kiosks during 2020. However, the restriction was lifted at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide “desperately needed revenue for small businesses.”
Governor Youngkin reinstated a ban on skill games in October 2023.
Other states that are discussing the legality of skill games and whether to allow them within their borders include Texas and Kentucky.
The state of Pennsylvania has previously considered these games “unlicensed gambling machines that are operating illegally and subject to seizure by police.”
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