Skill game operators face Oct. 13 deadline to remove machines
Pennsylvania residents may have less than a month remaining to play their favorite skill games, the casino-like machines that currently dot small businesses across the state.
Unless Pennsylvania lawmakers carve out a legislative fix to allow skill games to continue to operate, local businesses will be forced to remove or deactivate their machines by Oct. 13, according to a June ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court ruled skill games are legally no different from slot machines.
The ruling ensured skill games would be fall under the laws that govern slot machines, which can only be placed in casinos.
In recent years, a number of establishments have popped up throughout Pennsylvania solely dedicated to offering spaces with multiple skill game machines for play. One of these is Poo’s Place in Summit Township, operated by 71-year-old Ed Skillman, who has 14 machines.
Skillman said, without prompt action from the state, he may have to shut his business down.
“We are literally just in limbo,” Skillman said. “I don’t want to talk politics right now, but as bad as our economy is right now and all the taxes we have and the rising costs of everything, I don’t think the legislators have thought this through with how many people they’re going to put on unemployment and companies out of business by making these things illegal. That’s just my opinion.”
According to state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly are still far apart on how they propose to regulate skill games.
“While Senate Republicans were open to … using revenues from skill games for transit so long as there was accountability, Democrats have been reluctant to come to the table, as they want free reign to use the money for spending with no guardrails,” Vogel said.
One of the key debate topics in negotiations for the 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget was the question of how — or whether — to tax skill games to provide additional revenue. In his initial pitch for the budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro suggested a 52% tax. Ultimately, the final version of the state budget, which was signed in July, left skill game legislation and taxation unaddressed.
Two pieces of legislation were proposed in Pennsylvania to regulate skill games: Senate Bill 1079, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23rd, and House Bill 2213, sponsored by Rep. Danilo Burgos, D-197th. Both bills aim to establish a $500 monthly fee for skill game terminals and limit the total number of skill games in Pennsylvania to 50,000. No vote has taken place on either bill.
Pace-O-Matic, one of the main providers of skill game machines in Pennsylvania, has warned of dire consequences for Pennsylvania’s economy and small businesses if no decision is reached by mid-October.
“Small businesses, including restaurants and taverns across the state, say they will close their doors, lay off staff and stop donating to community causes if commonsense skill game legislation doesn’t pass by the Oct. 13 deadline,” wrote a spokesperson for Pace-O-Matic. “Along with small businesses, American Legion and VFW posts, volunteer fire companies and fraternal clubs — such as Elk and Moose lodges, will be devastated by losing the revenue from Pennsylvania Skill games. Many veteran organizations, in particular, have repeatedly said during the last few months that they will be forced to close without skill games.”
One club that could be impacted is American Legion Post 117 on Butler’s Main Street, which features several skill game machines in its club room. Post adjutant Dean Noechel said that a loss of revenue from skill games could adversely impact the post’s operations.
“It’s going to impact the donations that we give to our local community,” Noechel said. “It’s going to affect the donations that we give to the high school kids. We use that money to pay our utility bills and stuff like that as well. That money is used to keep our organization open and able to support our mission of helping veterans.”
Noechel says he’s spoken to state Rep. Marcie Mustello, R-11th, as well as someone from the office of state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, about the issue.
“They said that they’re aware and they're trying to work on legislation to help,” Noechel said.
On the other hand, Chris Silverio, president of the Chicora Moose Lodge, has taken a neutral stance on the issue. Although the lodge on West Slippery Rock Street has a few skill game machines, Silverio said the revenue from them is not vital and his club will survive without it if he has to unplug the machines.
“The Chicora Moose has functioned for years without those skill games,” Silverio said. “It’s nice to have, but it's not necessary to keep our business open.”
Assuming skill games end up barred, a state police spokesman told the Butler Eagle the agency’s plan of enforcement would lean on voluntary deactivation.
“In the absence of legislative action, the Pennsylvania State Police will be prepared to enforce the law consistent with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision,” deputy communications director Chris Caracino said. “PSP is currently developing an enforcement plan for implementation beginning Oct. 14. That plan will strongly encourage voluntary compliance and provide businesses and operators an opportunity to voluntarily remove unlawful machines.”
“We want to be clear that we will follow the law and if there is no skill game legislation by Oct. 13, Pennsylvania Skill will shut down all its games across the commonwealth,” Pace-O-Matic said.
