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. It is also backed by skill games producer Pace-O-Matic, which has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to legislators in recent years. It would tax skill games revenue at 15% and would not explicitly limit the total number of machines that could exist. The skill games debate is a rare issue that doesn't split along partisan lines, and lawmakers have gone around and around on it for years. The General Assembly voted in 2020 to ban skill games, taking on the issue at the same time they were clearing the way for casinos for the first time.

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Persons: ”, Sen, Aaron Rouse, Louise Lucas, Pace, Rouse, Chris Cylke, Ahmed Makhani, —, ” Cylke, Mark Peake, “, ” Peake, Democratic Sen, Jeremy McPike, Prince William County, McPike, Matt Hortenstine, Hortenstine, Lucas, Glenn Youngkin's, Christian Martinez, Ralph Northam Organizations: Senate Finance Committee, ABC, American Gaming Association, Republican, Democratic, Virginia Lottery Board, J Ventures, Accel Entertainment, Republican Gov, General, Virginia Supreme Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Commonwealth, Lynchburg, Georgia, Illinois