Pennsylvania's bid to legalise skill games fails

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 00:02 · Archive

Pennsylvania's push to legalise so-called skill games has failed after the state Supreme Court refused to extend a deadline for their legality.

A multiyear push to legalise 'skill games' in Pennsylvania has failed. The state Supreme Court on Friday denied requests to extend a Tuesday deadline that would have allowed the machines to operate legally. After Tuesday, the court's stay on an order finding the devices to be illegal slot machines will expire, and law enforcement can prosecute places continuing to use them.

The machines have operated as a vast, unregulated industry in the state for years. Governor Josh Shapiro had projected early this year that legalisation could bring in 2 billion dollars annually in tax revenue. Shapiro had called for machines to be taxed at 52 per cent, matching the rate on traditional slot machines. However, multiple bills in the Legislature proposed lower rates, including one by Democratic Rep. Danilo Burgos of Philadelphia that suggested 16 per cent.

State Rep. Russ Diamond, a Lebanon County Republican, said on Monday that 'there are lots of people to blame and most of them work in the Capitol'. Diamond attempted to advance legislation to resolve the impasse as recently as last week. Burgos said it was unfortunate that the state had not expanded its tax base.

How it is being reported

• Pa. lawmaker says many are to blame for skill games failurePittsburgh Post-Gazette · 13 Oct, 21:48
• Pa. lawmaker says many to blame for skill games failure ‘work in the Capitol’A multiyear push to legalize so-called “skill games” operating in clubs, bars, and other small organizations around Pennsylvania may be over, and state Rep. Russ Diamond said Monday “there are lots of people to blame and most of them work in the Capitol.”TribLIVE · 13 Oct, 21:16

In this story: Pennsylvania · Russ Diamond · Josh Shapiro · Danilo Burgos

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