A month from Monday, video betting terminals known as \u201cskill games\u201d will be illegal across Pennsylvania, and law enforcement officials are warning businesses to remove them or face potential criminal charges.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania\u2019s Supreme Court in June ruled that the devices<\/a> \u2013 which have sprung up inside Philadelphia\u2019s convenience stores, gas stations and other establishments \u2013 are indistinguishable from slot machines and should be subject to the same laws.<\/p>\n The justices placed a four-month pause on their ruling to give businesses time to adapt, but that window is running out.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania State Police, in a Sept. 9 statement, said anyone \u201cpossessing, operating and\/or maintaining such machines are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of the machines as of Oct. 14, 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Licensed casinos and truck stops will be the only establishments permitted to have video gambling terminals, and those devices must be inspected and approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, authorities added.<\/p>\n Businesses with the machines should contact their distributors or vendors and coordinate the removal of the devices, PSP said. Unplugging \u201can otherwise operable machine\u201d is not enough to comply with regulations, according to state police.<\/p>\n PSP encouraged store owners to proactively contact state police if they need help getting rid of skill games.<\/p>\n The Pennsylvania Attorney General\u2019s Office has estimated that 70,000 gaming machines have been installed across the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n