HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has withdrawn an emergency petition filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court seeking to extend the enforcement deadline for unregulated skill games.
Sens. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), along with members of the House, initially submitted the emergency request asking the high court to push the compliance deadline to Feb. 10. However, the group withdrew the motion just hours after filing.
The withdrawal leaves the Supreme Court's original Oct. 13 deadline unchanged. In a June ruling, the state Supreme Court determined that skill games operate as unlicensed slot machines under the Pennsylvania Gaming Act and the state Crimes Code, granting a 120-day grace period for operators to comply.
Beginning Oct. 14, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, are authorized to initiate enforcement actions. Law enforcement may seize non-compliant terminals, confiscate associated proceeds, and issue administrative citations against liquor license holders who continue to operate the devices outside of licensed casinos or approved truck stop establishments.
