Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday issued a warning to business owners on Tuesday, advising them to remove all skill game terminals from their premises by Oct. 14 or face potential law enforcement action.
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The enforcement advisory follows a June ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which determined that unregulated “skill games” meet the definition of slot machines under the Commonwealth’s Gaming Act. Under state law, video gambling devices not housed at licensed casinos or licensed truck stops are illegal and subject to seizure by law enforcement officials.
State law enforcement officials emphasized that simply turning off, unplugging or temporarily disabling the devices does not satisfy legal compliance requirements. Because disabled terminals can be readily operated again, officials advised business owners to contact vendors and distributors immediately to remove the machines entirely from their establishments.
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Enforcement measures may include the seizure and forfeiture of terminals, associated equipment and cash, along with criminal charges for non-compliant business operators. Distributors, vendors and manufacturers who refuse to remove their machines from commercial establishments also face potential criminal charges.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday expressed a preference for voluntary compliance ahead of the October deadline.
“We do not want to see searches and seizures at storefronts or bar, social club and restaurant establishments — we would much rather business owners and social clubs comply with the law and take steps to get these illegal devices out of their places of business,” Sunday said. “Collaborating with our law enforcement partners, my office will act in accordance with the law, which prohibits these machines outside of licensed gaming facilities.”
The Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement agencies are authorized to begin law enforcement actions after Oct. 14 unless the Pennsylvania Legislature takes action before that date.
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