SHERIDAN — Yvonne Fischer didn’t believe her husband when he first told her.

The reign of the “Queen of Virginia” across the Commonwealth’s bars, convenience stores and truck stops seemed all but over less than two months ago. Now? Several thousand devices across the state that resemble a slot machine on the outside appear poised for a reprieve thanks to a pandemic.

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Skill, whose skill games are manufactured by Pace-O-Matic and Miele Manufacturing, donated $250,000 to Feeding Pennsylvania, the state association of Feeding America Food Banks, to help the growing number of families struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam wants businesses to retain skill game machines — similar to slot machines — for at least a year in the wake of the COVID-19 economic slowdown, and he is asking the General Assembly to begin taxing revenues the machines would generate.

State police in Pennsylvania are out in force to crack down on what they consider unregulated gambling machines. Pace-O-Matic is already challenging these actions they have taken against legally defendable games of skill in the court of law.