Shortly after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dealt a legal blow to so-called skill games in June, the CEO of Parx Casino celebrated the decision and blamed the unregulated slot machine-like devices for attracting “rampant crime, money laundering, compulsive gambling and underage gambling.”
Days later, hundreds of small-business owners, veterans, and other supporters of skill games had a very different message at a state Capitol rally. They had signs reading “SUPPORT SKILL GAMES, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES” and others declaring that the machines help generate revenue for American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
“Don’t Hurt the Little Guy,” read one sign in a scene captured by television cameras.
