More than three weeks after enforcement efforts began, authorities confirmed almost universal compliance with the removal of illegal skill-based games at locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Police said officers have visited 12,202 establishments since October 14 and found 12,134 no longer have skill games, which equates to a 99.4% compliance rate. They seized just 14 machines and $1,913 during the enforcement period.
However, authorities warned that some operators and manufactures are trying to get around the prohibition by introducing “sweepstakes” machines that don’t accept cash directly, which operators claim makes them legal. Officials warned that machines with alternative payment methods could still violate state law and that no manufacturer or operator sought police input on the legality of these devices before placing them inside businesses.
“Distributors of these devices and establishments hosting them could face criminal charges for unlawful gambling and other related offenses if they continue operating these machines,” the state police said in a statement.
The state police also confirmed they continue to actively investigate locations that have not voluntarily removed skill games. “These investigations are active and ongoing,” the state police said.
The statewide removal of skill machines from convenience stores, bars, and other locations came after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the terminals are illegal slot machines and that only locations licensed by state gaming regulators can offer gaming machines.
After issuing its ruling on June 15, the court instituted a 120-day safe harbor period protecting businesses with skill games from prosecution. The state police began enforcement actions on October 14 when the deadline expired.
Moreover, the state police said, while the “Supreme Court’s decision involved so-called skill games, the scope of the court’s decision impacts devices and games in which outcomes are based on chance, skill, or a combination of chance and skill, regardless of whether the games rely on a random number generator or finite pool of outcomes.”
