HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are urging business owners and operators to physically remove skill game terminals from their premises rather than simply powering them down ahead of an October 13 deadline set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
In guidance issued Sept. 9, state police advised establishment owners to formally request that skill game vendors remove the terminals and all associated hardware. For businesses encountering uncooperative vendors, state police stated troopers will provide operational assistance to ensure the equipment is removed before enforcement actions begin.
The advisory follows a landmark June 15 ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which classified skill games as slot machines under state law. The court's decision subjected the unregulated terminals to the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and the state's criminal code. Under the ruling, maintaining or operating the machines without an official license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board constitutes a criminal offense.
While the Supreme Court issued a 120-day stay on enforcement to give state lawmakers time to potentially pass legislation regulating and taxing the devices, the safe harbor window expires October 13.
Because current state law restricts slot machine licenses primarily to approved casinos and regulated truck stops, the vast majority of small businesses—including taverns, convenience stores, and veterans' halls—will be unable to legally register or host the devices if the General Assembly fails to pass new statutory regulations before the deadline.
Regulatory Information & Business Guidance
- Official Enforcement Advisory: Review the complete law enforcement guidance via the Pennsylvania State Police Newsroom.
- Gaming Compliance: Track statutory definitions and commercial licensing standards on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Portal.
