Rep. Ben Waxman, D-Philadelphia, has formally introduced the Skill Game Consumer Protection Act, moving beyond a preliminary memorandum to establish a rigid safety framework for Pennsylvania’s unregulated skill-game market.
The bill’s introduction comes at a volatile moment for the industry. On April 8, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a $5 million forfeiture and the dissolution of two major gaming companies that pleaded guilty to felony corrupt organization charges. Law enforcement officials noted that the companies were operating illegal slot machines “dressed up as skill games,” intensifying the push for legislative clarity.
Waxman’s proposal seeks to bridge the gap between the state’s regulated gaming industry and the estimated 70,000 skill-game machines currently operating in bars and retail locations.
