PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania officials have warned businesses with gambling machines known as “skill games” that they must get rid of them within the next two weeks or face seizures and criminal charges.
The state Supreme Court ruled in June that the term “skill games,” which is sometimes used to describe the machines, is a misnomer, that they are essentially slot machines and thus belong only in casinos or licensed truck stops.
The court gave the thousands of businesses that use the machines to make extra money until Oct. 14 to dispose of them.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said Pennsylvania State Police would be in charge of enforcement, including seizing machines and any proceeds from their operation, and even criminal charges.
“Uunplugging the machine is not enough. The machine has got to leave the premises,” he said, adding his office would also pursue forfeiture in court, though he hopes it won’t come to that.
“I certainly hope this will be a collaborative process where businesses will make that decision on their own and everybody can work together to get this done.”
The state legislature could act to regulate the machines before the deadline. John Getz, state adjutant and quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Pennsylvania Department, said he hopes they come to an agreement because a lot of posts depend on the income.
“It needs to be legal and the state legislature needs to step up and help our VSOs out,” he said.
Right now, however, the odds on that possibility seem long.
Businesses must remove unlicensed gambling machines by Oct. 14 or face seizures, penalties
Businesses must remove unlicensed gambling machines by Oct. 14 or face seizures, penalties
