Since the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in June that so-called “skill game” machines are an illegal form of gambling that need to be either regulated or removed, the push has been on among supporters of the games to make that first option — regulation — a reality.
On Thursday, state Rep. Russ Diamond, the minority chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, introduced House Bills 2801 and 2802 to bring the games under a regulated framework and tax them. The state Supreme Court’s ruling came with an Oct. 13 deadline before the games would have to be unplugged, and Diamond is prioritizing getting his legislation passed before then.
