The Legal Landscape for Skill Games in Pennsylvania

Skill games have recently become quite popular in the Pennsylvania region. The devices have a lot of resemblance to those slot machines you often see at gas stations, bars, clubs, and other small businesses across Pennsylvania.

However, there is a big uncertainty regarding the legality of these skill games. And this uncertainty has paved the way for conflicts in state legislatures, as well as for business owners who’ve installed these skill games at their premises.

In fact, it is this legal ambiguity that results in bartenders, or other small business owners, getting arrested for installing a skill game! And such situations jeopardize their livelihoods, along with Pennsylvania’s revenue!

So, what does the Commonwealth Court have to say about skill games? And what’s the take of business owners? We’ve discussed all that in this blog. So, stick till the end to know it all.

Pace-O-Matic: The Epicenter of this Controversy

Pace-O-Matic, the leading distributor of skill games in Pennsylvania, is considered the epicenter of this dispute. And according to them, these types of games serve as a good source of earning for many small businesses and non-profit organizations.

And if you are still thinking that skill games are similar to slot machines you see at casinos, you’re wrong! They are radically different. One of the stark distinguishing factors is that the players need to master hand-eye coordination and reflexes to win.

So, in theory, this style of gameplay gives every person a chance to win.

Now, Pace-O-Matic has been dealing with disputes for a long time to establish a legal ground for skill games. In fact, they have even sued the entities that they believe have persuaded lawmakers against their business interests. However, even after all this, their efforts are at a halt because of political issues.

Perception of the lawmakers

Senator Gene Yaw was the first Republican who proposed a tax regulation for skill games. And as predicted by the executive director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), Mr. Kevin O’Toole,, the 16% tax proposal would have generated a whopping $250 million in tax revenue!

However, people have raised a lot of questions about whether this is a conflict of interest or not. That’s because Senator Gene Yaw has close ties with the organization that manufactures Pace-O-Matic’s machines and the legal firm that represents them.

Perception of the court

In 2023, a group of store owners in Pennsylvania filed a motion against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The whole lawsuit was about the fact that they challenged the board’s authority to regulate skill games. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court passed a judgment in this lawsuit stating that the PGCB lacked the authority to license or regulate skill games.

This decision prohibited the PGCB as well as the entire casino industry to stop their interfering in the litigation. This clarifies the fact that lower courts have accepted these skill games to be legal.

Perception of the opposers

Now, people who are against the legalization of these skill games possess a totally different perspective. They think that these machines are illegally taking away revenues from state-regulated industries.

In fact, some people have even made claims that the presence and popularity of these skill games have increased the overall crime rates and other societal issues. The critics have also warned that because skill games are not regulated, these could easily become sources of illegal cash deals and money laundering. Besides that, there have been past cases where skill game players were robbed of their winnings, which raises public safety concerns.

Wrapping Up

Small business owners of Pennsylvania, especially the ones who’ve installed skill game machines, are now stuck in the middle of an unsolved legal controversy! What’s worse is, different court decisions and the ever-longing legal ambiguity have made these store-owners vulnerable to criminal charges.

So, if you’re planning to install a skill game machine at your store, it’s best to stay aware of the regulations and consult a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer from our Logue Law Group to make sure your establishment remains compliant and protected. Call us at 844.PITT.DUI for more detailed information.