70,000 Skill Game Machines Now Illegal In PA: What To Know

PENNSYLVANIA — If you want to play one of the 70,000 skill game machines scattered across the state in taverns, restaurants, social clubs, mini-marts, gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, pizza parlors, and other businesses, you could have a problem.

As of Tuesday, they now are illegal.

State lawmakers could not come up with a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Oct. 13 deadline to regulate the machines. The court on Friday denied requests to extend the deadline to remove skill games, reaffirming that the machines are subject to the state Gaming Act and Crimes Code.

So now, only licensed casinos and qualifying licensed “truck stop establishments” may legally possess, operate, and maintain slot machines or video gaming terminals that have been inspected and approved for operation by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Pennsylvania State Police are warning that skill games devices/slot machines located outside of gaming control board-licensed businesses are unlawful and all establishments possessing, operating and/or maintaining such machines are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of the machines as of Wednesday.

State police and other law enforcement agencies may take enforcement actions against businesses which continue to possess, distribute, operate and/or maintain skill game devices after the compliance deadline.