ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Inside Allentown VFW Post 2124, skill machines have a large impact.
“The VFWs, the American Legions, firehouses, we all need this little bit extra to keep the lights on,” said Wally Lebeduik, a board member at VFW Post 2124.
He said the impact of them is also felt beyond these walls.
“In the Lehigh Valley, there are several we donate to every year; we donate food for Christmas for Thanksgiving, and this all helps us out,” said Lebeduik.
The machines are soon set to go dark at places like VFW Post 2124. This comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled they are illegal. Pennsylvania’s Attorney General previously argued skill machines operate as illegal and unlicensed slot machines.
There are around 70,000 of them throughout the state. The Attorney General said if they are not removed by October 14, venues risk law enforcement action.
“I just can’t stress how important it is that people reach out to their representatives and tell them that these machines really do save a lot of people,” said George Lewis, who works with For Your Amusement, LLC.
Lewis said his company has about 300 of these machines at different locations.
He is organizing a rally at the VFW to talk about legislation to regulate skill games, including a bill he says would tax machines 20 percent and another that would extend the deadline.
“Obviously the long-term goal is that something would eventually get passed that they would regulate it,” said Lewis.
But he said until something like that could happen, he will follow the law.
“It seems like these games have taken a huge role in a lot of the communities,” said Lewis.
The rally Lewis is organizing will be held at this VFW this Saturday at 10 a.m. and will include elected state officials.