Pennsylvania businesses and nonprofits face deadline on skill game machines
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Businesses and nonprofits in Pennsylvania are facing uncertainty as state lawmakers prepare to decide the fate of skill game machines before an October 14 deadline, with state police warning of enforcement actions if the devices remain illegal.
American Legion raises concerns over possible removal
Skill game machines have been in use at the Steelton American Legion Post 420 for years. Dave Crawford, who works for a company that distributes the machines, shared his concerns about their possible removal.
“It definitely concerns me. But for a business like ours here, it’s all upside. There’s no downside because it all goes out to veterans. It all goes out to charity. There’s nothing that we keep in-house here other than our building fund,” Crawford said.
Court ruling prompts enforcement warning
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that skill game machines are considered slot machines, and because they are not licensed by the state, they are currently illegal. State police have stated they will enforce the law and that simply unplugging the machines will not comply with legal requirements.
Lisa Iskric, also with the Steelton American Legion Post 420, said the post plans to follow the law but acknowledged the challenges it will face if the machines are removed.
“We are shutting them down on the date. And then after that, I guess we’ll see,” Iskric said.
“We are very much in need of them, but, you know, the income works out for us. But if they’re not here, they’re not here. What are we going to do?” she added.
Lawmakers weigh legalization and taxation
Lawmakers are set to return to the statehouse at the end of the month to potentially decide whether the machines should be legalized and how they might be taxed.
As the deadline approaches, anxiety continues to grow for establishments that rely on the machines to support their operations.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo told News 8 over the phone that his office intends to warn businesses in the coming weeks of what’s at stake, but said the law is the law, and the office intends to follow it.