The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided not to extend its ruling that considers skill games as slot machines. This ruling, which takes effect soon, effectively requires state lawmakers to legalize and regulate these machines by October 13. If lawmakers fail to act, the devices will be deemed illegal under state laws, as they currently operate without a license.
The court had previously granted a 120-day stay to allow for legislative action, but no measures passed. Both petitions seeking further intervention from the court—one from lawmakers and another from businesses affected—were denied without explanation.
Attorney General Dave Sunday has indicated that law enforcement will enforce this ruling and will require the removal of the machines from establishments. Many distributors are already removing these devices, and the state police have set up resources to assist businesses with the removal process. An estimated 70,000 skill game machines are operating in Pennsylvania, and the effort to regulate them has been ongoing for years, with no effective legislation yet in place.
