“What we are looking for is a level playing field,” president Dharmendra Patel told the newspaper. Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, a Republican from James City, supports the ban. He and Finance Chair Janet Howell, a Fairfax Democrat, said it was needed to stop the increase of previously unregulated game machines in convenience stores, truck stops and restaurants. They often directly compete with the Virginia Lottery, which is owned by the state and dedicates its profits to public education. In recent years, gaming has been embraced by the commonwealth when it is enjoyed by the privileged in fancy casinos... But that very same activity is not acceptable when offered by Asian American owned convenience stores or enjoyed by minority or marginalized populations.