Profits are split between the host establishment, gaming manufacturer, and supplier. PAIG estimates that there are 20,000 skill gaming terminals operating across the state, and they are annually costing the state $200 million. The Pennsylvania Lottery projects it loses approximately $2,284 per machine, per month.<\/p>\n
\nAt a time in which Pennsylvania casinos have made the difficult but appropriate decision to shut down to protect the health of their patrons, employees, and the public, these machines continue to attract gamblers of all ages,” said PAIG spokesperson Peter Shelly. “You don’t have to be a health expert to know that the extended period of times in which players interact with these machines could accelerate the spread of coronavirus to some of our most vulnerable citizens.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Along with the 12 brick-and-mortar casinos, licensed video lottery terminals (VLT) located inside truck stops have been required to turn off during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
Skill Gaming Legality<\/b><\/h2>\n
The legal battle continues over whether skill gaming machines are legal in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Here’s how they work: A skill gaming player places a wager and the reels spin. But instead of a winning payline automatically paying out \u2013 as is the case on a slot machine \u2013 a skill gaming player must tap the winning combination, hence the “skill” component.<\/p>\n
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Skill gaming machines aren’t regulated, so players have no idea what the payout percentage is. For licensed and regulated slots and VGTs, the terminals must return a minimum 85 percent payout rate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Governor Tom Wolf (D) says skill gaming is illegal. In his “Life Sustaining Business FAQs document,” he answers the question, “May I operate a Game of Skill in my business?”<\/p>\n
“The Commonwealth’s consistent position is that so-called Games of Skill are illegal gambling devices and not authorized anywhere,” Wolf states. “Operation of these machines during the current health emergency encourages people to congregate unnecessarily and is prohibited. Any business operating, servicing, or otherwise maintaining a Game of Skill is subject to enforcement.”<\/p>\n
Lawsuits have held up police seizures of the machines. Earlier this year, Superior Court Judge Patricia McCullough said the terminals are “not subject to the Gaming Act” because the casino law doesn’t govern unlawful gambling. PAIG is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation that deems such devices that fall outside of the Gaming Act as illegal.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania skill gaming machines have largely continued to operate during the state’s shutdown over the past two and a half months. As the Commonwealth slowly begins to reopen, opponents to the controversial terminals are demanding action. Pennsylvanians Against Illegal Gambling (PAIG) is the group behind a radio campaign telling listeners why the skill gaming machines […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":137388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,60],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Campaign Against Pennsylvania Skill Gaming Machines Intensifies<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n