Small businesses are the heart and soul of our community, providing jobs, supporting local families, and creating a vibrant economy. Many of these businesses thrive in part thanks to skill games – games that require players to use strategy and skill rather than purely chance. Skill games have become a popular form of entertainment, drawing in patrons who might otherwise not frequent these establishments. But now, there are talks of removing these games from our community, and that could spell disaster for local businesses.

It’s simple: removing skill games would lead to a significant decline in foot traffic and revenues, threatening the closure of many beloved establishments. We’re not just talking about arcades, but also local cafes, restaurants, and other small businesses that count on these games as an additional source of income. In areas where the economy is already challenging, these businesses play a crucial role in maintaining the local economic structure and contributing to the state's tax revenues.

Let's consider some statistics – in numerous state studies, it has been shown that small businesses contribute approximately 44% of the U.S. economy's GDP. In our state alone, thousands of businesses rely on skill games for added revenue, providing not only a source of entertainment but also meaningful employment to many. If these games are removed, jobs will be lost, and our state’s economy will suffer a further blow. Can we afford to take this risk?

We need to propose a balanced solution that allows for the continuation of skill games, including sensible regulations to prevent issues such as gambling addiction. This way, we can nurture both community welfare and economic stability. We can look to nearby states that have successfully integrated skill games into their markets while maintaining a strong regulatory framework.

Please join me in urging our state and local officials to keep skill games in our businesses to ensure their survival and continued contribution to our economy. We must raise our voices collectively to highlight the importance of these games to our local community and economy.

Sign this petition to show your support for keeping skill games as a vital part of our local businesses.