PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — About a month after Pennsylvania’s ban on skill games went into effect, state police have reported near total compliance.
State troopers have been to more than 12,000 establishments looking for skill games since the commonwealth started enforcing the ban less than a month ago.
Prior to the ban, there were an estimated 70,000 skill games across the state, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday, but police said over 99% of the businesses searched have gotten rid of their illegal gambling machines.
Over the course of their searches, troopers seized 14 machines and close to $2,000.
State police said they've encountered some businesses that still have machines, claiming they're legal because they don't accept money and operate more like a "sweepstakes."
Authorities warn that distributors of these devices — and businesses that have them — could face criminal charges if they continue operating them.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled skill games illegal back in June, saying they count as slot machines under the Gaming Act of 2004.
State police are investigating establishments that still haven't voluntarily removed their skill games.
