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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Pennsylvania fire companies and veterans organizations say the removal of skill games is cutting off a key source of monthly revenue.
- The state’s Supreme Court banned the machines as of Oct. 13.
Pennsylvania fire companies and veterans organizations say the removal of skill games is taking away a funding source they had used for equipment, utility bills, and charitable work.
The change follows a June Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that found the machines are “slot machines” under the state’s Gaming Act. The ruling gave lawmakers until Oct. 13 to make the machines legal, but the Legislature failed to pass any measures.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, skill games outside Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board-licensed businesses are now unlawful and can be seized, with criminal prosecution possible for establishments that keep them.
Nonprofits say the machines filled a funding gap
Organizations in Schuylkill County said the machines had become an important replacement for older fundraising models that no longer brought in the same support.
At Auburn VFW Post 3975, commander Charlie Hazzard said the machines typically generated about $2,000 a month. He said that money helped support veterans causes, including suicide prevention efforts and care for disabled veterans. Hazzard warned that some veterans organizations were already under pressure before the ruling and could now face closure.
Fire companies described a similar hit. A Summit Station Fire Company fundraising participant said the machines could bring in several thousand dollars in a good month. Landingville Fire Company removed five machines from its social hall. Trustee and First Lt. Bill Heydt said the loss will be harder on departments that already struggle to cover building maintenance, truck fuel, equipment, and apparatus costs.
What changed under Pennsylvania law
The Supreme Court ruling gave the Pennsylvania Legislature a 120-day window to amend the law, but that period expired last week. State police said that as of Oct. 14, machines outside PGCB-licensed businesses are unlawful.
That distinction matters because these devices had been operating in social halls and veterans posts rather than only in state-licensed gambling venues.
The biggest open question is whether Pennsylvania lawmakers revisit the issue, particularly for nonprofits such as fire companies and veterans organizations.
Based on reporting by Michael Urban for the Republican & Herald via Yahoo News.
