Pennsylvania Skill gears up to challenge Bucks County skill games ban
The ban goes into effect next week.
Key Points
- The vote to ban skill games in Bucks County was unanimous
- PA Skill says the restriction could impact small businesses
A ban on skill games passed in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, according to a WPVI local news report.
The vote for the ban was passed unanimously. Officials confirmed that the restriction will take effect next week.
Skill games are typically available in convenience stores, delis, restaurants and bars. The American Gaming Association estimates that there are nearly 67,000 skill game terminals in the state of Pennsylvania, the highest of any state.
The commonwealth has previously considered these games “unlicensed gambling machines that are operating illegally and subject to seizure by police.”
However, Pennsylvania Skill said that it plans to challenge the decision to ban games of skill, the local report said.
Company Chief Public Affairs Officer Michael Barley shared why PA Skill has decided to push back against the ban.
He commented, “Our biggest concern is making sure the small businesses and the fraternal clubs benefitting from the supplemental revenue are able to continue to do so.”
The Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA Tap) recently published results from a recent poll involving Pennsylvania voters.
According to the findings, more than half of voters oppose a ban on skill games. The poll went on to note that “a majority of voters,” nearly 60%, voiced support for a 16% tax on legal skill games.
“Voters polled don’t believe skill games harm other gaming revenues, including slots, iGaming, or lottery,” the PA Tap poll said.
Pennsylvania is not the only state that is discussing the legality of skill games and whether to allow them within their borders include Texas and Kentucky.
The city of Virginia Beach began enforcing Virginia’s statewide ban on skill games. The ban was reinstated last fall.
Virginia first passed a law banning skill game kiosks during 2020. However, the restriction was lifted at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide “desperately needed revenue for small businesses.”
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