A retired state police corporal who worked for the company that expanded gaming into Pennsylvania communities with its controversial skill games is accused of using his position to aid the proliferation of illegal video gambling devices across the commonwealth.
Ricky Goodling, who worked as national compliance director for Georgia-based Pace-O-Matic until 2023, was charged last month by the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office with racketeering and related offenses following a years-long undercover Pennsylvania State Police investigation.
The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office alleges Goodling took more than $500,000 in kickbacks to quash complaints about illegal slot machines. Prosecutors also allege Goodling helped distributors of the illegal devices obtain Pace-O-Matic’s machines in an attempt to deflect law enforcement scrutiny.