Republic Amusements lays off 81 after Pennsylvania skill games ruling

Republic Amusements announced it will cut 81 jobs following the state Supreme Court decision that made skill games unlawful in Pennsylvania and the start of State Police enforcement, according to a PlayUSA report drawing on Penn Live. The Camp Hill-based firm, which owns Capital Vending, Apple Vending and Entertainment Experts, submitted a WARN notice in Pennsylvania covering those 81 workers, the report said.

According to the company, the workers being let go support roughly 1,000 sites across the state. In Pennsylvania, Republic Amusements partners with taverns, eateries, fraternal clubs, family fun venues and convenience retailers. Its WARN filing gives 60 days' notice.

The machines became unlawful in Pennsylvania on 13 October, following a 15 June Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision holding that they qualify as slot machines under the state's Gaming Act. Because enforcement was postponed, legislators had a window to pass a law legalising the machines, or operators had time to take them out should lawmakers decline to act. State Police started enforcing on Wednesday, the report said. Police may confiscate the devices as illegal gambling equipment and bring charges against proprietors. State Police added that it has "entered into agreements with six skill games operators/distributors" seeking additional time to come into voluntary compliance.

COO Joe Calla criticised state officials for not establishing rules to govern the machines. "My family started this business nearly 64 years ago, and it's incredibly frustrating to work this hard to build something that supports great employees and real opportunities for small businesses only to have our elected officials refuse to take action," Calla said, according to the report. Republic Amusements contended that skill games differ from casino games since they sit within existing businesses instead of casinos.

The report noted that enforcement has moved beyond theory, and that absent legislative action, Pennsylvania's skill games sector will see further closures, confiscations of machines and mounting strain on operators and the small businesses that housed the devices. The report drew on Sue Gleiter's reporting for Penn Live.