Pennsylvania Supreme Court Declares Skill Games Illegal

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has closed the door on so‑called skill game devices, ruling that they fall under the state’s gambling laws and are therefore illegal.

Justice Wecht delivered the opinion on June 15, overturning two earlier Commonwealth Court decisions that had allowed the machines to operate in a legal grey zone.

These devices, which look and function much like slot machines, have spread across bars, convenience stores, laundromats, and pizza parlours throughout the state. For years, they were treated as outside the reach of regulators because of claims that player skill determined outcomes.

The Supreme Court rejected that argument, stating that the machines violate both the Gaming Act and the Crimes Code.

By reversing the lower court rulings, the decision brings thousands of unlicensed machines under the scope of gambling enforcement. The judgment marks a major shift, ensuring that regulators and law enforcement can now act against the widespread use of these devices in unregulated venues.

Lawmakers have four months to regulate machines

The Supreme Court’s ruling made clear that skill games fall under the definition of slot machines, but enforcement will not begin right away.

Instead, the justices imposed a 120‑day pause, giving lawmakers four months to decide whether they want to regulate the devices before law enforcement steps in. Justice Wecht stressed that the court was not creating new law, saying, “It is not this court that declares ‘skill games’ to be unlawful. Rather, it is the General Assembly that did so nearly a decade ago.”

The decision pointed to a 2017 amendment to the Gaming Act that added “skill slot machine” and “hybrid slot machine” to the statutory definition of a slot machine. That change meant the distinction between chance and skill was legally irrelevant.

The Pennsylvania Skill Amusement Device was key in the dispute. Distributed by POM of Pennsylvania, the machine features spinning reels and a memory‑based “Follow Me” function, which manufacturers argued introduced enough skill to remove it from gambling regulation.

The Supreme Court rejected that claim, ruling that the feature did not change its classification as a slot machine.

The judgment also acknowledged that many operators had relied on earlier court decisions and assurances from manufacturers when installing the machines. To account for this, the court delayed enforcement for 120 days, meaning owners and operators will not face immediate action.

Once the grace period ends, however, the machines will be treated as unlawful under both the Gaming Act and the Crimes Code.

Source: NEXT.io

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Declares Skill Games Illegal

Lawmakers have four months to regulate machines

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