Without the income from skill games, the Berkshire Heights Fire Company would cease to exist.
That’s the opinion of Mike Paulson, president and treasurer at the social club in Wyomissing.
Paulson was one of several fire company social club presidents who spoke in favor of the financial boon that skill games provide fire company social clubs and other community groups.
“To be totally candid, if in 120 days (skill games) are illegal and seized, we are out of business. Done,” Paulson said. “That’s not a problem just for us, it’s many smaller clubs just like us that would disappear.”
Paulson spoke at a recent conference at the Liberty Fire Company No. 1 social club. He was joined by skill games manufacturers and local officials, all of whom urged state lawmakers to enact “fair and reasonable legislation” to regulate the games.
In June, the state Supreme Court ruled that skill games could be considered slot machines, subjecting them to current rules banning slots from the convenience stores, bars and social clubs where skill games have become common.
The ruling provided 120 days for lower courts to work out the details, preventing law enforcement from acting against the games or their owners during that time.
It also may push state lawmakers to update the law to account for skill games, creating new rules on where the games are allowed, and if they should be taxed like slots.
Skill games resemble slot machines in appearance, but allow some form of player input beyond luck, like solving puzzles or aiming precisely.
Game manufacturers such as Pace-O-Matic, which makes most of the state’s skill games, say that input influences player outcomes enough to differentiate them from slot machines.
For nonprofit social clubs like Berkshire Heights Fire Company, the games have become a lifeblood.
“We use the skills money for all kinds of things,” Paulson said. “A lot of it has just been on general upkeep of the building. We’ve been able to raise the hourly rate of our employees. We do things for the kids in the community, Easter egg hunts. In the past we’ve had Christmas parties.”
Michael Paulson, president of the Berkshire Heights Fire Company, speaks about how skill games contribute to fundraising during a meeting with club members and other interested parties at the Liberty Fire Company Social Quarters in Sinking Spring on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Many community programs provided by nonprofit social clubs could be at risk if legislators do not act, said Justin Mancias, president of Liberty Fire Company No. 1 social quarters.
Mancias said Liberty’s situation isn’t as dire as Berkshire Heights, but the social club is still at risk of losing funding for the programs and events it supports.
“It would be crippling our ability, not necessarily to operate, but just to give back as much as we’re used to giving back,” Mancias said.
Initiatives supported by Liberty Fire Company include a charity billiards game that funds the American Heart Association, Toys for Tots funding, and outdoor summer festivals that fund organizations like IM ABLE and the Adalyn Rose Foundation.
Many community programs provided by nonprofit social clubs could be at risk if legislators do not act, says Justin Mancias, president of Liberty Fire Company No. 1 social quarters.(BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“That’s just breaking the ice on it (what the skills money funds),” Mancias said. “We have a pretty tight-knit community with our private clubs, where we donate to their causes, they donate to our causes. Overall, it’s just keeping together a huge sense of community, which the world severely needs these days.”
The groups at the press conference voiced support for House Bill 1079 and Senate Bill 2213, which would enact a statewide monthly tax of $500 per machine.
The new laws would generate an estimated $300 million in annual tax revenue.
The legislation would also limit the number of skill games to 10 in nonprofit establishments, like fire company social clubs, and five in for-profit locations.
Jeff Millay of Miele Manufacturers, Lycoming County, noted that his organization, which manufactures Pennsylvania skill games in partnership with Pace-O-Matic, supports that legislation and those limits.
“As a company, we don’t participate in mini casinos,” Millay noted. “This is supplemental income. This is so you can pay your electric bill.”
He noted that Miele employs 170 people, including 15 in its Leesport office, all of whom may be out of a job if skill games are made illegal.
Miele and others urged members of the public to contact their representatives and ask them to support the proposed skill games regulations.
Jeff Millay of Miele Manufacturers, Lycoming County, said his company, which manufactures Pennsylvania skill games in partnership with Pace-O-Matic, supports that pending state legislation that would set a tax and limits on the machines. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“What did you do with the (skill games) profits?” Millay asked the conference. “You helped out the Little League team. You helped out the neighbor down the street that was sick and couldn’t pay the bill. This is what we need to share (with lawmakers).”
State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz shared a similar sentiment at the conference.
State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz says many nonprofits rely on skill games to help fund community projects. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“Today is about more than just skill games,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “It’s about the volunteer fire companies that rely on every available resource to purchase lifesaving equipment. It’s about veteran organizations that continue serving those who serve us. It’s about community organizations that open their doors to people in need.”
After the conference, Jace Gring and Ryan Wilkes took the opportunity to play a few rounds of their favorite skill game: Living Large.
Both said they serve on the Liberty Fire Company social quarters board.
“It (the money) does pay a lot of our (expenses),” Wilkes said. “Stuff breaks, we have money to fix it.”
Social club members and other interested parties listen to a presentation on skill games legislation at the Liberty Fire Company Social Quarters in Sinking Spring on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)