The Supreme Court of Virginia recently reinstated a state-wide ban on skill games, which has had a significant impact on businesses like Finnigan’s Cove in Harrisonburg. Despite the ban, Donna Finnigan, owner of Finnigan’s Cove, said that the skill games brought in customers during slow business times and helped to boost income. However, with the ban in place, Finnigan has noticed a decrease in customers and income.

Finnigan understands why the ban was put in place but wishes there was more support for small businesses. She believes that the regulation of these games is necessary but also thinks that there should be limits on the number of machines allowed per square footage to prevent them from becoming mini casinos everywhere.

Finnigan’s Cove also has other gaming machines such as Golden Tee and Big Buck Hunter but they don’t bring in as many customers as the skill games did. Finnigan believes that if the government wants to help small businesses, it should make a decision on whether they want these machines in establishments or not. She also thinks that it is unfair for lottery companies to come in and offer their machines without considering their impact on gambling laws.