Six Days Out: Pennsylvania's Last Session Day Before the Skill-Games Deadline
Key Takeaways for Gaming Operators and Advisors
6 days remain before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's October 13 skill-games cutoff.
Today, October 7, is the last scheduled legislative session day before the deadline; lawmakers return October 19, per City & State PA (Oct 6).
Each chamber is waiting on the other. House Democrats want Senate Republicans to prove they can pass something first; Senate Majority Leader Pittman says stakeholders rejected the Senate's Gaming Control Board plan (PlayUSA, Oct 6).
"Inoperable" vs. "removed" is unresolved. State Police say machines must be removed; Pace-O-Matic says rendering them inoperable is enough (Local 21, Oct 5).
Chicago: the Illinois Gaming Board list shows 65 licensed and 287 pending establishments.
If you operate or route skill games in Pennsylvania, plan as though no bill passes before the deadline. The calendar now points that way.
The calendar problem. City & State PA reports that today is the last scheduled session day before October 13, and that the legislature returns October 19, after enforcement is set to begin. Lawmakers can still be called back, but nothing we found shows that is planned. Supporters rallied at the Capitol this week; Rep. Doyle Heffley told the crowd, "Put it up for a vote."
Who moves first? Per PlayUSA, House Majority Leader Matt Bradford's spokesperson said House Democrats would support "a reasonable resolution" but only after Senate Republicans prove they can pass something. Pittman says stakeholders rejected a Senate plan putting skill games under the Gaming Control Board, and no alternative has advanced. Rep. Russ Diamond introduced two bills (20% tax, five-machine cap), per Local 21 on October 5, though House Democratic leadership has not responded positively. We have not confirmed their bill numbers.
The compliance split. State Police say machines must be removed completely after the deadline. Pace-O-Matic says the order requires games to be rendered inoperable, not physically removed. Attorney General Dave Sunday said on September 29 that turning machines off or unplugging them does not satisfy the law, and that action could begin October 14. Venue owners hearing two answers should follow the enforcing agencies' guidance and get legal advice, not rely on a vendor's reading.
What operators should do this week. Decide who is responsible for removal at each location and schedule it. Document machine counts, serial numbers and removal dates for your own records. Tell staff and customers what will happen on October 13-14. Keep modeling revenue under the 20%, 35% and 52% scenarios in case a deal emerges after October 19.
Chicago: counts
From the Illinois Gaming Board's lists filtered to City = Chicago: 65 licensed establishments (latest status date September 3) and 287 pending establishment applications. Earlier posts cited 64 licensed; the board's list today shows 65. We found no new action in Missouri, Georgia, Texas, Nevada, West Virginia, Montana, Oregon or Nebraska.
Need a Pennsylvania wind-down or contingency plan before October 13? Reach out.
