Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reclassifies 70,000 Skill Games as Slot Machines, Giving Lawmakers 120 Days
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jun 17
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reclassifies 70,000 Skill Games as Slot Machines, Giving Lawmakers 120 Days
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jun 17
Summary
A 5-2 ruling by Pennsylvania’s highest court found the machines in bars, gas stations and VFW halls meet multiple legal definitions of slot machines and must face the same oversight as casino devices.
Justice David Wecht wrote that player skill may improve payouts but cannot determine outcomes, with chance controlling the result; the court also dismissed the low-paying “Follow Me” feature as legally insignificant.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said roughly 70,000 machines are operating statewide as unlicensed gambling devices, far outnumbering legal casino slot machines in Pennsylvania.
The 120-day stay now shifts the fight to Harrisburg, where lawmakers are expected to debate where machines can operate, how many are allowed and what tax rate should apply.
Pace-O-Matic and VFW leaders warned the decision could hit more than 10,000 small businesses and clubs, while Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker backed removing machines from neighborhood stores and gas stations.
Pennsylvania just redefined skill games as slots. Which state will be the next to face this billion-dollar legal battle?
As Pennsylvania eyes $1B from skill games, can it create a tax that helps the state without harming small businesses?
With 70,000 machines now legal slots, what new safeguards will protect consumers from gambling risks in everyday locations?
From Legal Gray Area to $2 Billion Revenue: Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Skill Game Regulation and State Budget
Overview
On June 15, 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision that changed the legal status of 'skill games' in the state. The ruling confirmed Pennsylvania’s authority to regulate gambling devices, giving the Office of Attorney General stronger power to protect consumers and enforce state law. Justice David Wecht described the decision as a correction of previous case law, meaning the court reinterpreted existing statutes and set a clear legal precedent. This overturned earlier interpretations that allowed skill games to operate with little oversight, ensuring these devices are now subject to consistent regulation across Pennsylvania.