(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Sean Simmers, Caption for Photo: Skill games at SkillGame Kingdom June 10, 2025. Sean Simmers of PennLive Patriot News)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is reminding businesses and establishments that continue to operate so-called “skill game” machines about the upcoming compliance deadline of October 13th, 2026, which follows the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

The state police have also launched a new informational webpage on pa.gov/psp/skillgames (click here) to provide businesses and establishments with more resources and contact information regarding the skill games decision and compliance requirements.

Businesses and establishments that have questions should use the following resources:

Establishments with a liquor license: Contact the local Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement office (click here to find out more) for assistance.

Establishments without a liquor license: Contact the local police department or PSP station (click here to find out more) for assistance.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled on June 15th, 2026 that skill games, which are often found in places like gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, mini-marts, pizza parlors, restaurants, social clubs, taverns, and other businesses, are in fact “slot machines” as defined in the Gaming Act.

Slot machines are considered as gambling devices under the Crimes Code, and someone commits a criminal offense by maintaining, owning, or operating, slot machines without a license that is issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

Furthermore, pursuant to section 5513 of the Crimes Code, distributors and manufacturers of such machines are cautioned that it is a criminal offense to assemble, lease maintain, make, sell or set up slot machines unless they are uthorized to do so and licensed by the PGCB.

All “skill games” devices/slot machines that are located outside of PGCB-licensed businesses are unlawful and all establishments that possess, operate and/or maintain such machines are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of the machines as of October 14th, 2026.