PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Proponents of electronic “skill games” rallied on the steps of the state Capitol building in Harrisburg on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to pass common sense legislation on the machines to support Pennsylvania communities.
The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are gambling machines and therefore only allowed in casinos or licensed truck stops. State police are expected to begin enforcement action against business owners with unlicensed skill games on Oct. 14. There are an estimated 70,000 devices across the state.
Legislators were joined by representatives of volunteer fire departments, VFW posts and small businesses, saying skill games are the lifeblood of many communities, generating funds to support services and taxpayers in need.
"People said to me, ‘What about more spaghetti suppers?’ No! Spaghetti suppers don't cut it anymore,” said Vicki, representing Deer Lake and West Brunswick Fire Company in Schuylkill County.
Joe Magee, who owns three restaurant bars in Prospect Park, Delaware County, told the crowd the revenue from the video gaming machines helped to keep his businesses stay afloat over the years.
"How can you expect to be able to maintain a $3 or $4 Miller Lite with those costs? It's just impossible. Food costs are up. Everything is up,” he said.
“More importantly, how can I possibly raise my prices when the people who come in have to pay for their kids' school. They have to pay for their transportation and they have to get to work. The math just doesn't make sense."
The group said lawmakers need to pass legislation to keep skill games around immediately, but lawmakers have been gridlocked on items such as tax rates, machine caps and revenue allocations.
