Pennsylvania State Police launch tip line for illegal skill games

The Pennsylvania State Police have opened a public reporting channel for businesses that continue to host skill games after the 14 October enforcement deadline. Suspected violations can be reported by e-mail or by phone, the PSP said. The force said businesses that keep the machines face criminal charges, seizure of equipment and confiscation of related proceeds.

The crackdown stems from a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision issued on June 15, 2026, which classified skill games as slot machines under state law. Enforcement was pushed back to October 14 so that operators would have time to clear the devices from the market. State law permits slot machines solely at licensed venues that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has approved. Bars, restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores and social clubs fall under the restrictions, whereas approved gaming machines remain permissible at licensed casinos and qualifying licensed truck stops, which are regulated by the state.

The PSP said switching a machine off does not count as removal: devices must be taken off the premises even if they are temporarily out of order or unpowered. Authorities may seize machines and equipment, take money generated through the machines and bring criminal charges where appropriate. Administrative action could also be taken against establishments holding liquor licences, which could lead to fines or licence suspensions. Businesses that have difficulty arranging removals have been advised to contact their equipment suppliers and distributors.

Roughly 70,000 skill game machines were in operation across Pennsylvania before the restrictions took effect. Because no legislative deal was reached to keep the machines running under a regulated system, the enforcement deadline arrived without a replacement framework. Proposals to legalise and tax skill games have been debated by lawmakers, yet a compromise has not been reached owing to disputes about licensing fees, taxation and regulatory requirements. Governor Josh Shapiro has urged Republican leaders in the state Senate to move legislation that could establish a legal framework for the industry. Absent legislation that alters the current legal position, the industry stays subject to enforcement.

Small businesses and community organisations that have depended on skill game income face economic fallout, among them American Legion and VFW posts, volunteer fire companies, emergency service organisations and fraternal clubs. Pace-O-Matic, described as a leading skill game software provider, said losing machine revenue could add further pressure on such organisations and local businesses. Host establishments usually receive a share of the revenue generated by the machines, and manufacturers and service providers divide the rest. Authorities cautioned earlier this month that the prolonged legal uncertainty surrounding the machines would conclude with the October deadline, and the PSP made clear that companies must dispose of the devices rather than merely stop using them. The Pennsylvania General Assembly's 2026 legislative session ends on November 30.