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Pennsylvania clubs and businesses face revenue losses as skill-game deadline arrives

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Five skill-game machines are gone from the Dillsburg VFW—and so is a source of money that helped pay employees, keep the building in repair and fund community donations.

Club manager Tory Kiefner told WITF the machines were removed last week rather than risk penalties for keeping them past Pennsylvania’s October 13 deadline. Across the state, businesses and nonprofit clubs are pulling out the devices after lawmakers failed to agree on a plan to legalize and regulate them.

Starting October 14, establishments that keep unlicensed machines can face criminal charges. Police can also seize the machines, related equipment and money from their operation, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The deadline follows the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s June 15 ruling that skill games qualify as slot machines under state law. The court allowed 120 days for lawmakers to establish a regulatory system and last week rejected requests for more time, WITF reported.

For the Dillsburg club, the next question is how to replace the money. Kiefner said the VFW is considering lottery products and other games but has not committed to a replacement.

“We’re not rushing into anything,” she told WITF.

Doug Sprankle, president of the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association, told the station that supporters hope lawmakers take up regulation again after the election.

In the meantime, police say businesses must arrange for vendors to remove the machines and associated equipment, including ticket-redemption terminals. Turning a machine off, unplugging it or temporarily disabling it does not satisfy the requirement.

Businesses with liquor licenses can contact their local Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement office for help. Other establishments can contact local police or a State Police station if a vendor refuses to remove the devices.

Licensed casinos and qualifying licensed truck stops may continue operating gambling devices inspected and approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That permission does not extend to unlicensed machines in bars, shops or social clubs.References

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