Pennsylvania court rules skill games are slot machines
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has stated that these games must adhere to gambling laws.
US.- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that skill games are slot machines under state law, but it has delayed enforcement for 120 days to give lawmakers time to respond. The machines are widely found in bars, gas stations and convenience stores across the state, and an estimated 70,000 are currently in operation.
The court heard two cases together, both of which centred on whether the devices should be treated as games of skill or chance. In one case, machines were seized from a bar and a supplier in 2019. In the other, a skill games developer sought a ruling on whether the products were legal.
In response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling, attorney general Dave Sunday said: “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for consumers, taxpayers and the rule of law in Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court recognised what our office has argued from the beginning – these machines operate as gambling devices and cannot legally exist without the same oversight, regulation and accountability as other forms of legalised gaming in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians deserve protections that ensure games are fair, transparent and operated within the bounds of the law.”
