Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules 70,000 'Skill Game' Machines Are Slot Machines

Casino.org · 6d ago

In a 5-2 decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that so-called skill games — slot-machine lookalikes sitting in an estimated 70,000 bars, convenience stores, and gas stations statewide — fall under the state's existing gambling and criminal codes. The court built in a 120-day "safe harbor" before enforcement begins, giving lawmakers a window to pass new regulation rather than force an abrupt shutdown of the largely untaxed machines. Manufacturer Pace-O-Matic said it disagrees with the ruling, while state fiscal analysts have pegged the potential tax revenue from regulating the machines at over $1 billion a year.