PSP: Most PA Businesses Removed Skill Games After Enforcement

More than 12,000 businesses and social clubs across Pennsylvania have removed skill games in the three weeks since state police began enforcing a court order.

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) reported that only 68 establishments out of 12,202 visited continued to hold the devices after October 14, according to reporting from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

The crackdown follows a June ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court decided that skill games must be regulated like other forms of gaming, meaning terminals can only be located in businesses licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

While the justices initially paused their ruling for 140 days to allow lawmakers to draft new legislation, no consensus was reached during that window. This lack of legislative movement left the court’s original decision as the standing legal standard for the state.

Pennsylvania reports 99.4% compliance in skill game enforcement

The Attorney General’s Office previously estimated that as many as 70,000 skill games machines were operating throughout the state. These machines often serve as a primary revenue source for small businesses, including gas stations, grocery stores, and laundromats.

In the recent enforcement period, the PSP seized 14 machines and $1,913. The agency stated that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

“No manufacturer or operator sought PSP’s input on the legality of these devices before placing them inside Pennsylvania businesses. Distributors of these devices and establishments hosting them could face criminal charges for unlawful gambling and other related offenses if they continue operating these machines,” the agency said.

The PSP addressed claims made by manufacturers and operators regarding the nature of the devices. The agency emphasized that machines that do not accept cash or that operate as “sweepstakes” still fall under the court order and are subject to confiscation.

According to the agency, any device that accepts “any form of compensation from a player to engage in slot-style games” that includes a potential payout is legally classified as a slot machine or gambling device.

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The enforcement action extends beyond the business owners hosting the terminals. The PSP has directed businesses to discuss the “immediate” removal of these machines with their vendors. The agency noted that criminal charges can be levied against distributors and third-party parties as well.

Removing these machines will change the local economies of the small businesses that relied on them. For many storefronts, the terminals provided a vital stream of income that helped offset operational costs.

The current status of the machines remains a matter of active investigation by state authorities.

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