Letter to the Editor: OP-ED

By Matt Mann, owner of Bob’s Tavern in Avis
It’s true what they say about how hard it is to run a restaurant or bar. The margins are tight and help can be hard to find.

Bob’s Tavern in Avis has been in my family for nearly 50 years, and we would have closed its doors more than once if it weren’t for skill games. My mother was on the verge of going out of business several years ago but heard about legal skill games and decided to install a few in the tavern. That changed everything. The games provided the extra income that saved us.

If you don’t already know, these electronic games are called skill games because, with patience and eye-hand coordination, you can win every time.

When my mother passed away, I was unsure whether I could follow in her footsteps and run the tavern. At one point I even considered selling the place. Fortunately, I have great people behind me who want to work here, so I was able to keep the tavern in the family.

But make no mistake, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without skill games. I use the revenue to help pay my staff of five and provide them with a good standard of living. That in turn allows me to run the tavern and hold a separate job.

These games got me through COVID and the ever-increasing cost of goods and services. When my mother ran the tavern, she used the skill game revenue to stay afloat, now I can move beyond that and am making improvements to the place. I am expanding the kitchen, making upgrades to utilities and looking to purchase the next-door property.

This goes beyond my business. My skill game revenue is now allowing me to help the overall community. Lately, I have been able to make generous donations to several local people who are in need. I also contribute to organizations such as youth sports leagues.

I know the supplemental revenue from legal skill games helps many others as well. Just ask the Beech Creek American Legion, which uses its skill game revenue for community projects. And it goes beyond Clinton County. Other small family businesses, veterans’ groups, volunteer fire departments and fraternal clubs are open today because of skill games.

State lawmakers need to hear stories like mine. They need to know that without skill games, places will close. They need to support legislation, Senate Bill 706, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw that will regulate and tax skill games. I like the idea because it will clean up the market. All the illegal games that I must compete against will be gone.

We follow the rules and the law, such as making sure no minors play our games, yet we must compete with others who don’t have the same standards. Regulation will change that; law enforcement will be required to shut down these illegal games. The bill also calls for a tax on legal games like mine that will provide the state with $250 million in revenue a year.

And just to be clear, skill games aren’t like casino games. They can only be played in person at the place where they are located, such as my tavern, not remotely, not on a phone or computer. This makes them a uniquely local gaming revenue stream. I say that because much of the money from the games stays in communities where the games are located.

This bill will provide certainty and longevity for small businesses that depend on skill games for long-term sustainable revenue. That’s good because I hope Bob’s Tavern will stay open for another 50 years.