We can fund these investments in our future, and at the same time address an issue that troubles many West Virginia families, by imposing restrictions and regulations on video gambling. West Virginia is drowning in a sea of video poker machines, better known as gray machines. Some estimates I have seen tell us that there are, today, twenty to thirty thousand of these machines in operation in our state. Our convenience stores and gas stations are becoming unlicensed casinos.
Children wander past gambling on their way to the candy counter.
And, for years, the government of West Virginia has sat idly by and let this happen. It would be difficult to devise any way to expand gambling any more than has happened in the past four years. It can't get any worse. This illegal industry grosses as much as a half a billion dollars a year. The current situation, more than anything else, breeds disrespect for the law.