As a Virginia Beach resident, I am deeply troubled to see an industry known for preying on vulnerable communities continue to operate illegally, out in the open, across my city. Despite Virginia’s clear ban, illegal neighborhood slot machines are everywhere. These devices operate in direct opposition to the General Assembly, the governor and the laws of our commonwealth, all of which have made it clear: These machines are illegal, and law enforcement has both the authority and responsibility to remove them. Yet here we are, still battling their spread.
This is not a victimless problem. In the absence of serious enforcement, these machines will keep targeting those who can least afford it. Research from the brief period when neighborhood slots were permitted in Virginia shows how strategically they are placed. The data reveals these devices are overwhelmingly concentrated in lower-income and minority neighborhoods. In Virginia Beach, of the 17 zip codes that make up our city, the single zip code with the lowest household income and largest Black population accounted for more than one-fifth — 21.5% — of all “skill” wagers placed. That’s not a coincidence. That’s targeting.
The damage isn’t only financial. Communities with these devices are more likely to experience higher rates of criminal activity. The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission, in a 2022 report, highlighted this troubling reality: “Commonwealth’s attorneys from multiple localities reported that crimes such as assault and robbery have increased at establishments with gray machines. They attribute this rise in crime to several factors, including that the machines generate loitering, the use of cash attracts crime and businesses that host the machines typically do not have the appropriate resources to secure the gaming environment.”
This should alarm every Virginia Beach resident. Do we want our convenience stores, gas stations and strip malls to become magnets for loitering and crime? Do we want vulnerable residents taken advantage of by an industry that profits from addiction? The General Assembly has already said no. The governor has signed the ban into law. What’s missing is enforcement at the local level. Without buy-in from local leaders, the ban is powerless against an industry that believes the rules don’t apply to them.
And this is not just about machines; it’s about the values we hold as a community. Virginia Beach has worked hard to position itself as a city of opportunity, family and safety. Allowing illegal neighborhood slots undermines this. Their presence chips away at neighborhood stability, erodes trust in the law, and sends the wrong message about what we will tolerate in our city.
Fortunately, members of the General Assembly continue to emphasize the dangers posed by neighborhood slots, and their message has been consistent: These machines are addictive, predatory and fundamentally harmful to our communities.
Del. Paul Krizek summed it up plainly: “[Neighborhood slots] are highly addictive, potentially predatory, especially for vulnerable populations… And I think banning the skill games, which we’ve done in the General Assembly, is exactly what the voters sent us to Richmond to do. To stand up to special interests, to protect communities and really ensure a fair and lawful Virginia.”
The evidence is clear, and the law is even clearer: So-called “skill games” are bad news for Virginians. They disproportionately target vulnerable populations, generate crime and put community safety second to profit.
It’s time for Virginia Beach law enforcement to step up and do what the law requires — remove these predatory devices from our neighborhoods. Every day they remain in place is another day our most vulnerable neighbors are being exploited. When you see banned neighborhood slots, don’t ignore them. Report them and urge local law enforcement to uphold the law.
Ron Taylor of Virginia Beach is a U.S. Navy veteran and a grassroots activist active on issues of community safety, public accountability and standing up for underserved populations across the city. He is the president of the Hampton Roads Black Caucus, but this column reflects his opinion and not that of the organization.
