Virginia’s Democratic legislature recently passed legislation that, if signed into law, will be a major boon for one of the state party’s largest financial supporters.

The gambling machine company Pace-O-Matic and its executives have given over $1.7 million to Virginia Democrats since 2023, including large sums during the recent 2025 elections, when Democrats retook control of the commonwealth’s legislature. Practically as soon as Democrats descended on Richmond to begin the 2026 legislative session, they filed legislation in both chambers that would legalize the “skill game” gambling machines manufactured by Pace-O-Matic across the commonwealth.