Top Story Spanberger vetoed a bill to legalize skill games, yet thousands remain in operation DAVE RESS Richmond Times-Dispatch May 6, 2026 May 6, 2026 Updated May 12, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Officially, they’re banned, but there are thousands of skill games across Virginia.kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ3@I\D:K:?8i 3@C56C\3@Ij >2C8:?i _AIj A255:?8i _AIjQmp?5 H66<D 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@G6C?@C]G:C8:?:2]8@G^23@FE\E96\8@G6C?@C^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmv@G] p3:82:= $A2?36C86Ck^2m G6E@65 2 >62DFC6 E@ =682=:K6 E96 D=@E\>249:?6\=:<6 56G:46D[ 2 !C:?46 (:==:2> r@F?EJ ;F586 CF=65 E92E 2 G6CD:@? @7 E96 D=@E\>249:?6\=:<6 56G:46D H2D =682=]k^DA2?mk^AmkAm%92E CF=:?8 42>6 EH@ >@?E9D 27E6C 2 !C:?46 (:==:2> r@F?EJ >2? A=62565 8F:=EJ E@ 2 76=@?J 492C86 @7 @A6C2E:?8 2? :==682= D<:== 82>6] p A2CE?6C’D 42D6 @? 2 C6=2E65 >:D56>62?@C 492C86 :D A6?5:?8] ~? uC:52J[ 2 $2=6> 5:DEC:4E 4@FCE 5:D>:DD65 76=@?J 492C86D @7 @A6C2E:?8 2? :==682= D<:== 82>6 282:?DE EH@ 4@?G6?:6?46 DE@C6D]k^Am People are also reading… Roanoke police investigating kennel, urge owners to remove dogs 18-year-old Rocky Mount woman arrested after fatal stabbing Pirate Days returns next weekend at a new location amid drought Emmy snubs! Jeremy Allen White, 'Stranger Things' missed by 2026 noms High heat, low lake levels made for a quiet Fourth at Smith Mountain Lake Danny Rocco helping read the pulse of Virginia Tech football Former assistant principal takes lead role at Franklin County High School Smith Mountain Lake businesses feel the impact of low lake levels No-wake zones around Independence Day fireworks at Smith Mountain Lake 'Heat distress' spurred investigation into City Dogs kennel by Roanoke police Virginia’s new liquor law reshapes rules for Richmond bar-restaurants Miss Virginia's Teen winner, from Rocky Mount, proud to represent community After impersonating police to confront Rocky Mount mayor, man gets jail time Postseason heartbreak helped bring back Virginia basketball's core of returners Motorcyclist killed in wreck on I-81 in Botetourt County Zach Smith is seen in 2022 playing an electronic skill game at a 7-Eleven in Henrico County. LUCA POWELL, TIMES-DISPATCH kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^f3d3h573\36f3\ca`f\2bb_\d``5`47fce5dQm$A2?36C86C G6E@6D D<:== 82>6D 3:==k^2mk^AmkAmQ%96J <66A D2J:?8 E96JVC6 :==682= 2?5 x <66A D2J:?8 E96JVC6 HC@?8[ 2?5 x <66A H:??:?8[Q D2:5 DE2E6 $6?] q:== $E2?=6J[ #\uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ[ H9@ C6AC6D6?E65 E96 DE@C6 @H?6CD]k^AmkAmQ%9:D :D 2 D>2== 3FD:?6DD :DDF6 H:E9 A6@A=6 492C865 F?56C 2 DEFA:5 =2H[Q 96 D2:5] $E2?=6J D2:5 E96 32?[ 2D >249:?6D C6>2:? :? A=246[ 92D 4@DE E96 DE2E6 E2I C6G6?F6 @? >@C6 E92? 2 S` 3:==:@? @7 D<:== >249:?6 AC@7:ED[ Q>@?6J E92E 4@F=5 92G6 7:I65 D49@@=D[ 7:I65 C@25D[ 96=A65 A6@A=6 562= H:E9 A@G6CEJ]Qk^Am kAm$<:== 82>6D 92G6 366? E96 7@4FD @7 :?E6?D6 =@33J:?8 2E E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 7@C E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD[ 6G6C D:?46 E96 ':C8:?:2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE @G6CEFC?65 2 vC66?DG:==6 r@F?EJ ;F586’D :?;F?4E:@? 32CC:?8 6?7@C46>6?E @7 2 a_a_ DE2E6 32?]k^AmkAm%96 DE2<6D 2C6 9:89]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 E96 J62C 27E6C E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 6?24E65 E96 32? 3FE 367@C6 :E E@@< 67764E[ ':C8:?:2?D H286C65 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sa]a 3:==:@? @? D@>6 h[___ D<:== 82>6D[ 86?6C2E:?8 2 AC@7:E 7@C E96 82>6 @A6C2E@CD @7 ?62C=J Sd_f >:==:@?[ 2 y@:?E {68:D=2E:G6 pF5:E 2?5 #6G:6H r@>>:DD:@? DEF5J 7@F?5]k^Am kAm}@H[ E96C6 >2J 36 2D >2?J 2D h_[___ D<:== 82>6D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^Am kAmq:8 AC@7:ED 2C6 2E :DDF6]k^AmkAm%96 :?G6DE>6?E :? E96 E9C66\J62C 677@CE E@ >2<6 D@>6 @7 E96> =682= – ad[___ :? E96 G6E@65 3:== – 92D 366? D:8?:7:42?E[ E@@]k^AmkAm%96 3:886DE @A6C2E@C[ v6@C8:2\32D65 !246\~\|2E:4[ 82G6 ;FDE F?56C Sa >:==:@? E@ ':C8:?:2 A@=:E:4:2?D’ 42>A2:8? 7F?5D @G6C E96 A2DE E9C66 =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 C6A@CED 4@>A:=65 3J E96 ':C8:?:2 !F3=:4 p446DD !C@;64E]k^Am kAmu:=:?8D H:E9 E96 DE2E6 r@?7=:4ED @7 x?E6C6DE 2?5 tE9:4D r@>>:DD:@? D9@H !246\~\|2E:4 A2:5 >@C6 E92? Sa`d[___ E@ =@33J:DED 2C8F:?8 :ED 42D6 :? a_ad 2?5 >@C6 E92? Sadc[___ :? a_ac] u:8FC6D 7@C a_ae 2C6 5F6 :? E96 DF>>6C]k^Am kAmt?E:E:6D E92E C2:D6 7F?5D E9C@F89 DF49 =682= 492C:E23=6 82>:?8 2D 3:?8@[ AF== E23 82>6D 2?5 %6I2D w@=5’t> A@<6C E@FC?2>6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 7C2E6C?2= 2DD@4:2E:@?D[ G6E6C2?D 8C@FAD 2?5 C6=:8:@FD 3@5:6D[ 92G6 =@33:65 282:?DE =682=:K2E:@?j A2CE @7 E96 3:8\>@?6J =@33J:?8 @7 42D:?@D 2?5 9@CD6 C24:?8 :?E6C6DED 92D 7@4FD65 @? <66A:?8 D<:== 82>6D :==682=]k^Am kAm%96 4@?G6?:6?46 DE@C6D E92E 9@DE >2?J @7 E96D6 >249:?6D D2J E96 >@?6J E96 @A6C2E@CD A2J 7C@> :D C6G6?F6 E92E 2==@H65 E96> E@ <66A E96:C 5@@CD @A6? 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ H96? >2?J 4FDE@>6CD DE@AA65 4@>:?8[ H9:=6 E96 vC66?DG:==6 :?;F?4E:@? 32CC65 A@=:46 2?JH96C6 :? E96 DE2E6 7C@> 6?7@C4:?8 E96 a_a_ 32?]k^AmkAm%96:C =@33J 8C@FA D2JD D<:== 82>6D C6>2:? 2? 6DD6?E:2= D@FC46 @7 C6G6?F6[ 2?5 :E >@3:=:K65 5@K6?D @7 DE@C6 @H?6CD 2E =68:D=2E:G6 962C:?8D @? =682=:K2E:@?]k^Am kAmp7E6C E96 a_ab ':C8:?:2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 564:D:@? @G6CEFC?:?8 E96 vC66?DG:==6 :?;F?4E:@?[ D@>6 DE@C6D 2?5 ECF4< DE@AD 5:5 EFC? @77 @C C6>@G6 >249:?6D]k^Am Download PDF kAmqFE E92E’D 366? E96 6I46AE:@? C2E96C E92? E96 ?@C>[ D2JD E96 ':C8:?:2?D p82:?DE }6:893@C9@@5 $=@E |249:?6D[ 2 4@2=:E:@? H9@D6 >6>36CD :?4=F56 E96 !@=:46 q6?6G@=6?E pDD@4:2E:@?[ E96 uC2E6C?2= ~C56C @7 !@=:46[ 2=@?8 H:E9 >6>36CD @7 E96 4=6C8J[ E96 42D:?@ EC256 2DD@4:2E:@?[ E96 u2>:=J u@F?52E:@?[ H9:49 25G@42E6D 7@C q:3=6\32D65 A@=:4:6D 2?5 uC665@> ':C8:?:2[ 2 AC@8C6DD:G6 8C@FA]k^Am kAm%96 4@2=:E:@? D2JD D<:== 82>6D @A6C2E@CD 4@?E:?F6 E@ 24E:G6=J 5:DC682C5 E96 =2H[ 2?5 D@>6E:>6D AC@G:56 =682= 25G:46 E@ DE@C6 @H?6CD E@ 96=A E96> <66A >249:?6D @A6C2E:?8[ 6G6? 2D A@=:46 :? !6E6CD3FC8 D6:K65 be >249:?6D 7C@> e DE@C6D :? |2C49[ @C =2DE J62C H96? E96 p=6I2?5C:2 AC@D64FE@C 492C865 EH@ DE@C6 @H?6CD H:E9 A@DD6DD:?8 :==682= D<:== 82>6D] ~?6 @7 E96 DE@C6 @H?6CD A=62565 8F:=EJ E@ 2 >:D56>62?@C 2?5 H2D 7:?65 Sd__] %96 @E96C 42D6 :D DE:== A6?5:?8]k^Am kAm~?6 C62D@? 7@C E96 DA@EEJ 6?7@C46>6?E :D E96 492?86D !246\~\|2E:4 >256 E@ :ED 7=28D9:A "F66? @7 ':C8:?:2 82>6D]k^AmkAm%96 DF>>6C 27E6C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8[ :E :?EC@5F465 2 G6CD:@? E92E 5@6D?VE C6BF:C6 2 5:C64E 56A@D:E @7 >@?6J[ 3FE E92E DE:== 2==@HD 2 A=2J6C E@ H286C 7F?5D] %96 4@>A2?J D2:5 E92E >62?E :ED >249:?6D H6C6 ?@E 4@G6C65 3J E96 DE2E6 32?[ D:?46 :ED 56D4C:AE:@? @7 D<:== 82>6D D2JD E96J 2C6 82>6D @7 492?46 E92E C6BF:C6 :?D6CE:?8 >@?6J[ E:4<6ED @C E@<6?D :? @C56C E@ A=2J]k^AmkAm“pE =62DE @?6 @7 E96 A=2J6CD :? E96 :?5FDECJ 925 564:565 E92E 8@@5\72:E9 5:D4FDD:@?D 2C@F?5 E9:D H6C6?VE 8@@5 6?@F89[ 2?5 E96J … D@F89E E@ 6G256 ':C8:?:2VD =2H[ 2?5 E92E 24E:@? 4C62E6D 8C2G6 4@?46C?D :? >J >:?5 2D E@ E96 3FD:?6DD AC24E:46D 2?5 E24E:4D @7 E9:D 4@>A2?J[Q D2:5 E96? v@G] v=6?? *@F?8<:?[ D2J:?8 96 H@F=5 G6E@ 2?J =682=:K2E:@? >62DFC6]k^Am kAm}@E =@?8 27E6C E92E[ yF586 wF89 |4r@??6== @7 E96 w2?@G6C s:DEC:4E r@FCE 5:D>:DD65 2 >:D56>62?@C 492C86 E92E s2G:5 q@86D6[ @H?6C @7 E96 qC66K\x? |2CE :? |6492?:4DG:==6[ 925 2? :==682= 82>3=:?8 56G:46 H:E9 2 D<:== 82>6 :? 9:D DE@C6] k^Am kAm|4r@??6== CF=65 E92E D:?46 E96 ?6H "F66? @7 ':C8:?:2 $<:== a 82>6 :? q@86D6VD DE@C6 5:5 ?@E C6BF:C6 A=2J6CD E@ :?D6CE 2 4@:?[ E:4<6E @C E@<6?[ E96 ?6H 82>6 H2D ?@E DF3;64E E@ E96 DE2E6VD 32? @? D<:== 82>6D]k^AmkAmx? u63CF2CJ[ 27E6C E96 !C:?46 (:==:2> r@F?EJ r@>>@?H62=E9’D pEE@C?6J 2?5 DE@C6 @H?6C $62? |4}2>2C2 28C665 E92E 9:D >249:?6D H6C6 =682= 3642FD6 E96J 5:5 ?@E C6BF:C6 :?D6CE:@? @7 >@?6J @C E@<6?D[ 2 5:DEC:4E 4@FCE ;F586 5:D>:DD65 492C86D E92E |4}2>2C2 925 CF? 2? :==682= 82>:?8 724:=:EJ 2?5 A@DD6DD65 2? :==682= 82>3=:?8 56G:46]k^Am kAm“%96 C646?E CF=:?8 :? |2?2DD2D !2C< AC@G:56D 7FCE96C 4=2C:EJ E@ D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E92E @A6C2E:?8 !246\~\|2E:4 "'$a D<:== 82>6D :D =682= :? E96 r@>>@?H62=E9 @7 ':C8:?:2[” D2:5 #2496= p=3C:EE@?[ D6?:@C G:46 AC6D:56?E 2E !246\~\|2E:4]k^AmkAm“%9:D CF=:?8 :D D:8?:7:42?E 3642FD6 ?@E @?=J 5:5 E96 4@FCE DA64:7:42==J C64@8?:K6 E96 =682=:EJ @7 "'$a D<:== 82>6D F?56C ':C8:?:2 =2H[ 3FE :E 2=D@ DE2E65 E92E E96 @E96C 82>6D D6:K65 :? E96 42D6 2C6 :==682=] "'$a 82>6D 2C6 E96 @?=J 25;F5:42E65 D<:== 82>6D >66E:?8 E96 AC65@>:?2?E D<:== 2?5 ‘?@?\:?D6CE:@?’ C6BF:C6>6?ED F?56C ':C8:?:2 DE2E6 =2H[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmqFE 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D :? >2?J =@42=:E:6D 7C@> p=6I2?5C:2 E@ %2K6H6==[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @77:4:2=D 7C@> E96 ':C8:?:2 r@F?4:= @? !C@3=6> v2>3=:?8[ E96 ':C8:?:2 |@@D6 {@586 pDD@4:2E:@?[ E96 '6E6C2?D @7 u@C6:8? (2CD @7 ':C8:?:2[ 2?5 E96 ':C8:?:2 uC2E6C?2= ~C56C @7 !@=:46 92G6 42==65 7@C :?4C62D65 6?7@C46>6?E]k^Am kAm“r6CE2:? 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 EC:65 E@ D<:CE E9:D =2H[ 3FE @FC G:6H :D DEC2:89E7@CH2C5i E96 =2H @? D<:== 82>6D :D 4=62C[ 2?5 :E D9@F=5 36 6?7@C465[” E96 4@2=:E:@? @AA@D:?8 E96 82>6 D2:5]k^AmkAmp 3:== E@ =682=:K6 E96 82>6D DBF62<65 E9C@F89 E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J E9:D J62C[ ?62C=J 5J:?8 @? E96 7:?2= 52J @7 E96 D6DD:@?]k^Am kAmp? :?:E:2= 4@>AC@>:D6 E92E 2==@H65 76H6C 82>6D E92? E96 DA@?D@CD \ DE2E6 $6?] p2C@? #@FD6[ s\':C8:?:2 q6249[ 2?5 s6=] r=:77 w2J6D[ s\r96D2A62<6 \ 925 AC@A@D65 3FE >@C6 E92? E96 w@FD6 H2?E65[ H9:=6 C6E2:?:?8 E96 =@H6C E2I6D 2?5 >2?F724EFC6C 2?5 5:DEC:3FE@C 766D E92E #@FD6 2?5 w2J6D AC@A@D65[ A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 3J 2 ad\`c G@E6 3FE 72:=65 :? E96 w@FD6 @? 2 da\ca G@E6[ H9:49 D2H ae s6>@4C2ED 2?5 ae #6AF3=:42?D ;@:? 92?5D :? @AA@D:E:@?]k^Am kAmp7E6C 4@?76C66D >256 D@>6 =2E6\27E6C?@@? EH62<D[ E96 3:==D[ $6?2E6 q:== ee` 2?5 w@FD6 q:== `afa[ 72:=65 282:?]k^Am kAmqFE 27E6C s6=] |:4926= (636CE[ #\u2FBF:6C[ 2D<65 7@C 2 G@E6 @? E96 $6?2E6 3:== E@ 36 C64@?D:56C65 2?5 D@>6 :?E6?D:G6 @77\E96\7=@@C 5:D4FDD:@?[ E9:D 3:== A2DD65 @? 2 df\bg G@E6] xE A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 ab\`d]k^AmkAm$A2?36C86C G6E@65 :E[ D2J:?8 =682=:K2E:@? H@F=5 “DEC2:? 2? 2=C625J 7C28>6?E65 DJDE6> 2?5 :?EC@5F46 E9@FD2?5D >@C6 >249:?6D H:E9@FE 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 C68F=2E@CJ DECF4EFC6]”k^AmkAm$96 D2:5 E96 >249:?6D 92G6 366? 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J =@42E65 :? 4@>>F?:E:6D H96C6 >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 =:G:?8 36=@H E96 A@G6CEJ =:?6 2?5 H96C6 2 9:896C A6C46?E286 @7 C6D:56?ED 2C6 >:?@C:E:6D]k^Am kAm~7E6?[ E96 4@?G6?:6?46 DE@C6D E92E 9@DE E96 >249:?6D 2C6 E96 @?=J DE@C6D :? E9@D6 ?6:893@C9@@5D]k^AmkAm“$>2== 3FD:?6DD6D C6=J @? =682= D<:== 82>6D 7@C DFAA=6>6?E2= :?4@>6 E@ <66A E96:C 5@@CD @A6?[” !246\~\|2E:4’D p=3C:EE@? D2:5]k^AmkAm“"'$a D<:== 82>6D 8:G6 E96D6 =@42= D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E96 255:E:@?2= :?4@>6 E96J ?665 E@ 9:C6 DE277[ A2J H286D[ >2<6 =@42= :>AC@G6>6?ED[ 2?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ <66A E96 =:89ED @?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmp?5 H9:=6 E96 4@>A2?J :D D2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 w2?@G6C 2?5 !C:?46 (:==:2> 5:DEC:4E 4@FCE 564:D:@?D 277:C>:?8 E92E E96 4@>A2?J’D >249:?6D 2C6 =682=[ D96 D2:5[ “(6 =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ 4@?E:?F:?8 @FC H@C< H:E9 =2H>2<6CD @? 2 =68:D=2E:G6 D@=FE:@? E@ C68F=2E6 2?5 E2I D<:== 82>6D]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^4765cfa7\66_6\cba3\242b\5dadc4g_26b5Qm$A2?36C86Ci (:E9 492?86D E@ bg 3:==D C6;64E65[ E:>6 7@C 2?@E96C C6G:6Hk^2mk^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^2fg_cae`\4_5c\cgab\22fe\aeghb56_4f_hQm(9:E6 ~2< =@8:DE:4D 7:C>D :>A24E ``f ;@3D 2D D:E6 4=@D6D[ |6E2 D9:7ED 4@?EC24E@CDk^2mk^Am Dave Ress (804) 649-6948dress@timesdispatch.com 0 comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story General Assembly dismisses Spanberger's changes on major bills Lawmakers dismissed suggested changes to many significant bills, including measures to rein in prescription drug prices. Gov. Spanberger signs Virginia's paid family leave bill into law The legislation says Virginia employees are entitled to 80% of their wages for up to 12 weeks of time off to take care of their families or th… Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! July 1, 2026: Restaurants facing lower customer traffic; Crescent Simple Syrups; Fireworks guide Del. Garrett discusses an amendment to open carry of assault firearms Del. Garrett discusses an amendment to open carry of assault firearms Sen. Surovell discusses amendment on Oak Hill Farm Sen. Surovell discusses amendment on Oak Hill Farm Sen. Stuart discusses amendment on menhaden Sen. Stuart discusses amendment on menhaden
General Assembly dismisses Spanberger's changes on major bills Lawmakers dismissed suggested changes to many significant bills, including measures to rein in prescription drug prices.
Gov. Spanberger signs Virginia's paid family leave bill into law The legislation says Virginia employees are entitled to 80% of their wages for up to 12 weeks of time off to take care of their families or th…
A1 Minute! July 1, 2026: Restaurants facing lower customer traffic; Crescent Simple Syrups; Fireworks guide