The Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) recently urged the General Assembly to enact fair and reasonable skill game legislation ahead of the October 13, 2026, court deadline. According to the PA TAP, thousands of organizations and small businesses across the state rely on this revenue to stay afloat.
Pennsylvania Wants to Make Skill Games Illegal
Across Pennsylvania, organizations say skill games have become an important source of revenue for covering day-to-day operating costs, retaining employees, supporting charitable initiatives, and providing essential services to their communities, PA TAP argues.
However, earlier this summer, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill game machines are a form of gambling, meaning they should be subject to the state’s gambling regulations. Later, the Court placed the aforementioned October 13 deadline for when these games would become illegal in the state. This could bring an end to a 12-year experiment in Pennsylvania that, according to some, amounted to an unregulated expansion of gaming.
For this reason, supporters of the games are calling on lawmakers to pass legislation regulating these terminals and establishing a $500 monthly fee per machine. They argue the measure would preserve a critical source of funding for veterans organizations, volunteer fire companies, fraternal clubs, and small and family-owned businesses. Additionally, this would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the state.
Supporters Urge Lawmakers to Sign Bills Legalizing Skill Games
PA TAP said the debate over skill games is ultimately about protecting community institutions that serve Pennsylvanians every day. The organization’s president, Doug Sprankle, emphasized that these groups are more than just businesses or clubs, noting that they also include veterans’ organizations that support fellow veterans.
These fraternal organizations contribute to local charities, small businesses that employ residents, and community gathering places. PA TAP warned that without fair and reasonable legislation, many of these organizations could be forced to make difficult decisions that would affect the people who rely on them.
For some organizations, losing that revenue could mean cutting donations and community programs. For others, it could result in job losses or even permanent closure. For example, Moose Lodge 214 in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, says the revenue is essential to keeping its doors open. Rich Dvorscak, the venue’s administrator, said that if skill games become illegal, the business might go bankrupt within a year.
For veterans’ organizations, the financial stakes can be even greater. Nase Kraft American Legion Post 255 in Sellersville, Bucks County, said revenue from skill games has been critical to keeping the post open. The organization said that if the state removes the machines, it will no longer be able to operate or provide support to veterans, explaining that under current regulations, bar sales alone are no longer enough to sustain operations.
PA TAP’s proposed solution is for state lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1079 and House Bill 2046. These two bills would create a fair regulatory framework for skill games, including the aforementioned $500 monthly tax on each terminal, and also provide an immediate source of revenue for the state, projected to generate approximately $300 million annually.
In other news from Pennsylvania, an elderly couple died after crashing their car in a casino retention pond.