Expected Value
Cheers RVA!
Things cool off a bit today with thunderstorms likely in the morning and late afternoon, a high of 80 and down to 58 in the evening.
the juice:
With the General Assembly special session quickly approaching, will skill games become legalized? Mercury Moomaw reports:
If no deal is reached, skill games will remain illegal in Virginia under a ban former Gov. Ralph Northam first approved in 2020. There are still multiple ways the machines could become legal this year, but the lack of forward movement has convinced many Capitol observers the outlook for skill games is turning grim.
When I first saw the gambling machines in 7-11 I thought it was kind of trashy, folks just sitting there gambling in a convenience store. I talked to an owner of two 7-11’s who explained how good the revenue stream was compared to the Virginia lottery. He mentioned originally having to keep more cash on hand added some risk, but now they have separate ATM-style payout machines.
Slot machines contribute to more problem gambling and addictive behavior than any other gambling activity according to the Haynes Clinic: “Electronic gaming machines have become known as “the crack cocaine” of gambling.” According to quitgamble.com, about 50% of slot machine players have gambling problems and slot machines are the most addictive.
the pulp:
City council approves payment plan for new stadium per 12 on your side (see the dive for more)
Suspect arrested for deadly shooting on Chamberlayne last Tuesday per channel 8
4th District School Board candidates to fill Young’s vacancy per Exit Interview (new source yay). Young was the gentleman who said “yay or nay” at school board meetings and recently resigned.
the haps:
This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I’m talkin’ to whoever’s listenin’ out there.
John Carpenter's 1986 exploitation masterpiece “Big Trouble in Little China” is coming to the Byrd for one night only Friday, May 14th at 7 pm, per RVA mag.
the dive:
John Baliles, a former City Council member and advisor to mayors Wilder and Stoney, is cynical about the City’s decision regarding the diamond district development (article here).
He published the article prior to the vote but here was his prediction:
Wednesday will be a rosy “kumbayah” meeting in which all the positives will be laid out in front of the Council and the public and none of the negatives or risks will be discussed. The public hearing will take place, but many people will be at work in the afternoon or picking kids up from school, and others might decide to stay home knowing this deal will be approved by Council on a 9-0 (or maybe an 8-1) vote.
It passed 6-0, with council members Stephanie Lynch, Reva Trammell, and Nicole Jones not in attendance.
People often overlook the cost of parking, but it is a substantial expense and often a necessary amenity. That is why you haven’t heard Stoney or CAO Saunders or anyone talk about it. They don’t want to remind people that structured parking will be needed, it costs a lot of money, and someone has to pay for it.
According to the article structured parking costs roughly $22k per spot. I’m sure Ross Catrow would be advocating for more public transit solutions and less parking.
In Mayor Jones’ Shockoe Stadium debacle of 2013/2014, there were countless reassurances of a 1,000, 1,200, and even a 1,500 space parking deck at Broad Street and 17th Street that would serve the proposed stadium. In the seven months that plan was debated and discussed, not one person EVER specified how big the deck would be, how much it would cost, or who would pay for it. Not once.
One of Baliles’ main complaints is Stoney and his administration are willing to do anything to get the deal done and will be long gone when the real bill arrives.
the vibe:
I refuse to call slot machines skill games. They’re not. Have a positive expected value day RVA!
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