ROBESONIA, Pa. — At a local restaurant in Berks County, workers guide a skill machine through the dining room, out the door, and into the truck.
For operator Candace Dillon, it is one of about 30 locations she has cleared ahead of the deadline.
“Just upset, disappointment, because they can’t agree,” Dillon said. “I mean, Pa. has been trying to get them regulated since 2014, and they just can’t come to an agreement on a fair tax amount.”
Now, two empty spaces remain inside the Henry P. Robeson House, a historic restaurant in Robesonia.
“We’ve been open for about three and a half years,” said restaurant owner Duane Putt.
“We’ve had the skill machines in with Candy since the day we’ve opened.”
Putt said the machines were not the center of his business, but for a small restaurant, even a smaller stream of income made a difference.
“They don’t get played here quite as hard and heavy as they do at some of your fire companies and VFWs and things,” Putt said. “Nonetheless, in these trying economic times, when you’re trying to be a small-business owner, every couple of bucks in your pocket counts.”
Monday, those extra dollars rolled out the door.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the games are slot machines and illegal outside licensed casinos and qualifying truck stops.
“My initial reaction was I was hoping that in the 11th hour they’d get something — an agreement hammered out,” Putt said.
That agreement never came.
Pennsylvania State Police said simply unplugging them is not enough. Enforcement begins Wednesday.
“I think there’s still a pretty good fight to go,” Dillon said. “But we’re not done. We’re going to keep fighting.”