(WHTM) — More changes and regulations have been proposed for skill games in Pennsylvania.
A House bill circulated by State Rep. Ben Waxman (D-182) proposes establishing protections that, according to his co-sponsorship memo, would enact “responsible standards that reduce harm and promote transparency.”
The memo says unregulated skill games pose a heightened risk to problem gamblers and vulnerable populations due to their accessibility and speed of play.
The memo says the following protections would be enacted if the bill were passed:
Requiring all machines to connect to a centralized monitoring system overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Implementing mandatory player protections, including play-speed limits, required breaks, daily loss caps, prohibiting deceptive design features, and extending the Commonwealth’s self-exclusion program to all skill game devices.
Restricting the placement of machines in gas stations and convenience stores.
Authorizing municipalities to limit or prohibit the placement of skill machines within their jurisdictions.
Dedicating a percentage of skill games revenue for problem gambling treatment and prevention.
“If skill games are going to be regulated, they should be designed to minimize harm,” Rep. Waxman’s memo adds.
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
Regulating skill games has been a hot political topic in the Commonwealth for years and has intensified recently after a Midstate man and former executive at the skill games company “Pace-O-Matic” pleaded guilty to accepting kickbacks and money laundering in February 2026.
Attorney General Dave Sunday called the skill games environment “disorganized and problematic.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.