Pennsylvania Skill Games: Today Is the Cutoff. Here Is What Happens Tomorrow Morning, and What Everyone Is Saying.
United Gaming Advisors / Monte Cristo Gaming — October 13, 2026
Key Takeaways for Gaming Operators and Advisors
Today, October 13, the Supreme Court's 120-day window closes. On October 9 the court denied a last-minute request to extend the deadline (City & State Pennsylvania).
Tomorrow, October 14, State Police can begin seizing machines and filing criminal charges against businesses still running them, per PhillyVoice's reporting of the State Police notice.
Unplugged is not removed, according to State Police. The vendor side reads it differently (see below).
No bill has passed both chambers. Lawmakers return in Harrisburg Monday, October 19, five days after enforcement can start.
I have watched a lot of deadlines in this business, and the ones that hurt people are the ones where everyone assumes someone else will blink. Nobody has blinked. This is a big story, and no single outlet has all of it, so below I lay out what I think operators need to do and then point you to the reporting I relied on so you can read it from every angle.
What the State Police have said. Per PhillyVoice (October 5), only licensed casinos and qualifying truck stop establishments may operate these machines. From Wednesday, businesses still running unlicensed machines can face seizure of the machines, seizure of proceeds tied to the games, criminal charges and administrative citations against liquor licenses. State Police say turning a machine off or unplugging it does not change what it is. Distributors, vendors or manufacturers that refuse to remove machines could face charges too. Businesses whose vendor won't pick up can contact State Police, and liquor licensees can contact the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. City & State Pennsylvania (October 9) adds that the citations could lead to fines or loss of a liquor license for bars and restaurants.
The vendor reading is different. CBS 21 News / Local 21 (October 5) reported that Pace-O-Matic told the station compliance requires the games to be "rendered inoperable," not physically removed, while State Police said machines must be removed completely. The same story profiles a hotel owner outside Allentown with six machines who planned to disable them but not remove them. My advice: follow the enforcing agency's guidance, not a vendor's reading of it, and get your own legal advice.
Why Harrisburg hasn't moved. PlayUSA, citing Pennsylvania Capital-Star reporting (October 6), lays out the standoff: House Democrats, through a spokesperson for Majority Leader Matt Bradford, say they will back "a reasonable resolution" but want Senate Republicans to show they can pass something first. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman says stakeholders rejected a Senate plan putting skill games under the Gaming Control Board. Gov. Josh Shapiro has signaled support for taxing skill games. Rep. Russ Diamond has two bills, including a 20% tax with up to five machines per location, but told CBS 21 he has not had a positive response from House Democratic leadership. For the earlier backdrop, Spotlight PA (September 17) covers the lead-up, including the co-sponsorship memo from Rep. Brad Roae for a delay.
What to do tonight. Confirm every machine and every ticket redemption terminal is physically out, or has a signed pickup your vendor has put in writing. Photograph the empty spot. Keep the receipt, serial numbers and dates. If your vendor is dragging its feet, document that and call State Police before Wednesday, not after.
What to do this week. Talk to counsel about your liquor license. Keep your revenue and location records, because any future licensing framework or dispute will start with them. Tell your staff exactly what to say if an officer walks in.
What it means for the legislature. A deal after enforcement begins is a different conversation than a deal before it, and the election is weeks away. We will keep tracking and report only what is confirmed with a date.
Chicago VGT Live Tracker
By the numbers (Illinois Gaming Board lists, City = Chicago, pulled October 13): 64 licensed establishments (latest status date September 3, unchanged) and 293 pending applications (291 establishments, one veterans establishment, one truck stop; latest status date October 12). Pending is up one from yesterday's 292.
Application growth: pending applications are up 3.2% since September 24 (284 to 293) and 2.1% since October 1 (287 to 293). Steady intake, no surge, and no new state licenses dated after September 3.
Hot Items to Go Live:
City local licensing. Zero issued. The Chicago Sun-Times (October 5, updated October 6) reported that a City Hall spokesman confirmed the machines have not gone live in the city.
Conditional-license ordinance (O2026-0024090). Deferred and published April 15; we found no vote since.
The repeal push. Mayor Johnson asked the Council to reverse course (WTTW, June 12). No new Council action found.
Bally's Host Community Agreement dispute. The September 9 License Committee hearing is the latest verified event, with no follow-up date.
The 293-application state queue. Every pending application still needs IGB approval first.
Regional context: the Sun-Times reports nearly 80% of the six-county Chicago metro area now allows video gambling, with more than 200 municipalities allowing it to some degree and more than 60 banning it. The city itself remains the holdout on turning machines on.
We found no new dated developments today in Missouri, Georgia, Texas, Nevada, West Virginia, Montana, Oregon or Nebraska.
Read the story from every angle
City & State Pennsylvania, Oct. 9: what happens after the deadline, who is affected, the Supreme Court's denial.
PhillyVoice, Oct. 5: State Police enforcement details.
CBS 21 News / Local 21, Oct. 5: the business owner view and the removal-versus-inoperable dispute.
PlayUSA / Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Oct. 6: House-Senate standoff.
Spotlight PA, Sept. 17: the run-up and the delay proposal.
Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 5: Chicago-area video gambling.
Need a Pennsylvania wind-down or contingency plan before the first enforcement day? Reach out.
