HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — With the Oct. 13 deadline approaching, Pennsylvania lawmakers are seeking an extension to finalize skill games regulations. On Tuesday, they filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, requesting the deadline be pushed to Feb. 10, 2027.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled that skill games are classified as “slot machines” under the Gaming Act, stipulating a 120-day period for legislators to create a licensing, taxation, and regulatory framework. After this period, law enforcement can confiscate unregulated machines.
Small businesses, nonprofits, VFWs, and volunteer fire departments that rely on revenue from skill games are urging lawmakers to act before the deadline hits. Senators Gene Yaw and Anthony Williams have proposed legislation to support both the state’s financial needs and the businesses dependent on skill-game income, introducing a $500 monthly fee per terminal intended to generate approximately $700 million for Pennsylvania.
This estimated revenue would fund public services like roads, bridges, transit, and support for fire departments and EMS. The proposed legislation also includes regulations such as monitoring, independent audits, age verification, and state oversight.
The lawmakers emphasized that they seek an extension not due to law enforcement’s inability to enforce existing laws but to prevent widespread seizures that would complicate the implementation of new legislation. The Supreme Court has yet to respond to the petition.
Governor Josh Shapiro commented, “It’s been four years of the Senate refusing to act on it. I hope lawmakers can come together soon to get the bill to my desk.”
