With the deadline on skill games in Pennsylvania quickly approaching, State Police are preparing to crackdown on businesses.
Earlier this summer, the PA Supreme Court ruled skill games typically found in convenience stores, restaurants, bars, socials clubs, gas stations and several other locations are now defined as slot machines.
That means they cannot operate without a license through the PA Gaming Control Board.
“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 PGCB,” State Police said in a release.
All other skill games across the state will be considered illegal and state police say “all establishments possessing, operating and/or maintaining such machines are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of the machines as of October 14, 2026.”
State Police and other law enforcement agencies can begin seizing machines and money “associated with the operation of the machines and/or filing criminal charges where deemed appropriates.”
Troopers are recommending that businesses with skill games talk about removing them with the distributors or vendors who may own the machines and other related equipment.
“Simply powering off an otherwise operable machine or unplugging them is not sufficient to comply with the law,” said State Police. “If a distributor or vendor is unwilling to remove machines, the establishment is encouraged to proactively reach out to PSP to assist in their removal to ensure compliance with applicable law.”
Rep. Russ Diamond has proposed legislation that would regulate the games, saving them from becoming illegal.
Get more information here.
