Skill Games Continue Making Headlines In Pennsylvania

With Pennsylvania lawmakers calling for a tax on skill games, others requesting a full ban and others still eager to establish these as an organic part of the Keystone State’s gambling landscape, it appears more and more likely that skill games will soon be regulated in the same way as PA online casinos.

Meanwhile, reactions to the wildly different proposals that we’ve seen in the past weeks continue to pour in, with Pace-O-Matic (POM) - one of the biggest manufacturers of such games - giving reactions.

PGCB Likely to Regulate Skill Games

The debate has been going on in Pennsylvania for a while, however the matter only re-ignited the public’s imagination when Governor Josh Shapiro proposed a 42% tax on skill games.  Pace-O-Matic went on record as stating it “welcomed the start of the conversation”, but PA casinos, journalists and the Council of Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP) all had mixed reactions.

Matters were compounded by news that the PGCB vote on the Phoenixville entertainment center, which will hold a considerable number of skill games, got pushed by a month. Many questioned the timing of the delay in view of the controversy.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Skill Games Act moved on to Gaming Oversight Committee, proposing an entirely different tax structure of 16% and further muddying the waters. Now, Mike Barley, from Pace-O-Matic, told the press that he believes his company's Pennsylvania Skill games are replacing similarly untaxed slot-type machines that have been used quietly in bars and clubs for decades, adding that the company would welcome PGCB oversight on the matter.

Philadelphia Quietly Moves To Ban Skill Games Altogether

The latest debate has been sparked within Philadelphia, which has now tabled legislation  to prohibit businesses in the city from having these games unless they have a casino license or a liquor license, as well as at least 30 seats for patrons to eat or drink. The new law was proposed by Philadelphia City Council Member Curtis Jones. 

POM has reacted harshly to the proposed move, with spokesman Matt Haverstick, telling 6ABC that “they will file a lawsuit”. However, the bill has found the support of of Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, a respected figure, which may further complicate matters.