Winchester council urges General Assembly to uphold ban on unregulated 'skill games'

The Winchester City Council on Dec. 9 approved a resolution urging the Virginia General Assembly to retain the 2020 ban on unregulated “skill games” — machines often found in convenience stores and bars that city presenters and supporters likened to video slot machines.

Jeff Bittner of the Economic Development Authority told council members that skill games are unregulated and have been linked in studies to increased problem gambling and to concentration in low-income neighborhoods. He said casino operations are heavily regulated and taxed, producing resources for addiction counseling and education funding, but that unregulated skill games lack similar safeguards: “There is no regulatory body overseeing them… so they have found that it leads to some challenges,” Bittner said.

Council debate centered on trade-offs: representatives of small businesses and convenience stores said the machines provide modest revenue streams and help keep local retailers viable; opponents warned about youth access, underreporting of revenue and effects on Lottery receipts that fund schools. Council members discussed a recent Hanover County court decision that created a gray area for some new machine designs but emphasized the resolution calls only for maintaining the state-level ban until a clear regulatory framework exists.

After discussion, councilors moved and seconded the resolution and the motion carried. The EDA representative said the request is timed for the upcoming General Assembly session so state legislators consider retaining the ban or establishing a regulatory body to address the machines.

Provenance: presentation and discussion of R2025-50 (topic introduced SEG 1545; vote concluded SEG 2290).