Pennsylvania skill games deadline: removal due 13 October

The Pennsylvania skill games deadline is 13 October 2026, and the State Police say the machines must be physically gone from businesses by then. Police can act against any business still holding them from 14 October: the machines, linked hardware and the cash they generate may be seized and forfeited, and charges may follow in some cases.

The warning follows a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision on 15 June 2026 that treats so-called skill games as slot machines. Roughly 70,000 terminals, found in shops, bars, clubs and fuel stations, are thought to be affected.

What did the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decide?

The court held that skill game terminals are slot machines under the state's Gaming Act and gambling devices under the Crimes Code. The machines are therefore illegal without a change in the law. It also left the door open for the General Assembly to set a different policy through new legislation.

The ruling came with a 120-day pause. The court pointed to businesses that had trusted earlier Commonwealth Court decisions placing the machines outside gambling law, and it shielded machine owners and operators from enforcement based on its opinion for that period. The pause ends on 13 October.

The State Police set out what this means in practice. A slot machine needs a licence from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), and a business that keeps or runs an unlicensed one commits a criminal offence. Legal slot machines and video gaming terminals are limited to licensed casinos and qualifying truck stops, and the PGCB has to inspect and approve each device before it is used.

What must businesses do before 13 October?

In a Pennsylvania State Police release dated 9 September, the force issued guidance advising businesses that host skill games to start getting the machines removed. The release warns that "simply powering off an otherwise operable machine or unplugging them is not sufficient".

If the terminals belong to a distributor or vendor, the State Police strongly advise the host to arrange collection with that company, covering ticket redemption kiosks and other linked hardware too. A venue whose supplier will not take the machines away can ask the State Police to help with removal.

From 14 October, a business still holding machines is open to immediate seizure of them and to prosecution.

Can lawmakers still legalise skill games?

They can, but the calendar is tight. According to CDC Gaming's report on the guidance, both chambers are due back in Harrisburg on 28 September, and the session is scheduled to adjourn on 30 November.

Proposals under discussion include:

• House Bill 2213 (Democratic Rep. Danilo Burgos, 42 co-sponsors): each terminal would pay a $500 monthly fee under Department of Revenue oversight, with no more than 50,000 machines statewide. CDC Gaming reports an expected yield of $300 million a year.
• A similar Senate bill from Sens. Anthony Williams (Democrat) and Gene Yaw (Republican).
• A two-bill package announced by Republican Rep. Russ Diamond. Skill games would pay 20% of gross terminal revenue and be limited to clubs, liquor-licensed bars and restaurants, and qualified truck stops, at no more than five per site. He also proposes a 49.9% rate for both casino slots and all online casino games, which would lower the slot rate.

On 14 September, Republican Rep. Brad Roae announced plans for a fallback bill that would in effect extend the deadline to 13 April 2027. He pointed to the few voting days left before 13 October and the lack of consensus (ABC27's report on Roae's extension bill).

Why is there no deal on skill games yet?

Senate Republican leaders and House Democrats blame each other. In statements carried by Local21 News on 14 September, Senate Republican leaders said they had already offered a compromise proposal and urged House Democrats to put forward one of their own.

A House Democratic spokesperson replied that Senate Republicans, despite wanting to lead on the issue, still need to show they can get a skill games measure through their own chamber.

What the skill games deadline means for players

If no law passes in time, skill game terminals should disappear from stores, taverns and gas stations across Pennsylvania from mid-October.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates casinos, video gaming terminals, sports wagering and online gambling, lists licensed online operators and runs self-exclusion. Our guide to self-exclusion tools explains how these schemes work.

For the wider picture, see our overview of US states with legal online casinos. If playing any kind of machine has stopped feeling like entertainment, our responsible gambling guide lists practical tools and support services.

Questions about the Pennsylvania skill games deadline

Are skill games illegal in Pennsylvania?

The Supreme Court's 15 June 2026 decision treats skill game terminals as slot machines and gambling devices. Unless lawmakers change the law, businesses that still have them from 14 October risk seizure and criminal charges.

When will skill games be banned in PA?

Machines must be removed by 13 October 2026, and enforcement can begin on 14 October. A bill planned by Rep. Brad Roae would in effect delay this to 13 April 2027, but it has not passed.

Is unplugging a skill game machine enough?

No. A machine that has only been switched off or disconnected still counts as non-compliant, so the State Police expect it to leave the premises.

How many skill games are there in Pennsylvania?

Estimates vary. CDC Gaming reports about 70,000, while industry supporters base their revenue forecasts on roughly 50,000, according to WESA.

Source information checked on 15 September 2026. New legislation before 13 October could change the rules described here.