Tell Governor Youngkin: Veto SB 212!
Contact Governor Youngkin and tell him veto SB 212.
Dear Governor Youngkin,
I am a proud member of my local Virginia Moose Lodge. The Moose are one of the largest, and most charitable, volunteer service organizations in Virginia and the nation. Combined, our 82 Virginia lodges and 66,000 Virginia members have contributed millions of dollars and given thousands of volunteer hours to help Virginians in need and support good causes across the Commonwealth. I am writing to encourage you to veto Senate Bill 212, which would authorize deceptive slot machine gaming in public places in our communities. There are plenty of ways to place a bet in Virginia – we don't need a casino in every corner store. SB 212 would lead to tens of thousands of gambling machines in Virginia’s convenience stores, gas stations, truck stops and restaurants. An unprecedented increase of predatory slot-like machines in the Commonwealth will have serious repercussions – crime, youth exposure, increases in problem gambling, and reduced revenue for Virginia’s churches, charities, service organizations and the Virginia Lottery. Our local lodges use Virginia’s charitable gaming laws to raise funds that support our charitable efforts. Our gaming is authorized, and we are regulated by the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. While we played by the rules and were heavily regulated, skill companies were busy finding ways to circumvent regulation. Legalizing them now rewards bad actors. Frankly, Senate Bill 212 looks like it was written by the skill machine companies. It fails to include strong regulation by a state regulatory agency that understands gaming, it has no clear guardrails or consumer protections. Without any mandated security and thousands of dollars in cash on hand, these small businesses will be ripe targets for crime – leaving businesses, their employees and patrons vulnerable. The odds of winning on these machines is unknown, but likely heavily stacked against players. If Virginia truly is the best place to live and raise a family, we must do everything in our ability to ensure it is the safest. And that starts with keeping these machines out of our Commonwealth. I urge you, please veto SB 212! Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the Commonwealth.
Sincerely,
______
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