Pennsylvania Skill Games Ban Comes in, Sweepstakes Casino Future Still in Doubt

Skill games in Pennsylvania have been banned as a deadline to pass regulatory oversight passed. However, one proposed bill could provide a lifeline for the beleaguered machines.

The state Supreme Court decided in June to ban skill game machines in Pennsylvania. However, several attempts have been made to extend the debate and buy the industry more time. Unfortunately for bars across the Keystone State, no decision was made.

The story started in June when the Court voted 4–2 to treat skill games in Pennsylvania the same as slots. That essentially made them illegal under state gambling law.

The Oct. 13 deadline to pass a law regulating the machines has now passed with no decision made.

Skill Games Extension Does No Good

“Under the Gaming Act”, a PA government statement read, only “qualifying licensed truck stop establishments and licensed casinos” were permitted to operate slot machines and video game terminals (VGTs).

Establishments are now ordered to remove the machines following the deadline expiration.

Pennsylvania’s ban on skill games comes amidst a mad scramble to regulate the machines.

Two representatives introduced competing bills at the end of September to regulate skill games.

Rep. Brad Roae’s (R-Medville) Bill HB 2795 aimed to set up a new category for skill game machines.

Rep. Manny Guzman’s (D-Reading) bill HB 2793 wanted the status quo kept until next year’s April session. Ultimately, there was no time to consider either bill.

Pennsylvania’s Skill Games Boom

• 70,000+ skill games spread across Pennsylvania
• Pace-O-Matic skill games introduced in 2014
• Games worked like Tic-Tac-Toe, incorporating a “skill” element to the game
• Law was updated in 2017, when the Gaming Act categorized “skill slot machines”
• Despite skill game seizures since 2017, the state Supreme Court took until 2026 to determine its “skill games vs slot machines” ruling

Sweepstakes Casinos, VGTs in Regulators’ Sights

Pennsylvania has moved on to tackling sweepstakes casinos in the state.

In late September, Rep. Russ Diamond introduced HB 2801, which would ban online sweepstakes casinos. Additionally, operators in violation of the law would face fines of $500,000 per offence.

As the ban on skill games comes in, however, HB 2801 could provide a lifeline. The bill would extend regulations on video game terminals, which could encompass skill games. While skill game machines are switched off, they could remerge under a new regulatory framework – likely as “legalized” slot machines.

Oklahoma Move to Curb Sweeps Casinos Now

While Pennsylvania moves to squeeze in a sweepstakes ban this fall, other states are moving faster.

Oklahoma’s sweepstakes ban takes effect on Nov. 1, though some operators have decided to jump ship early.

Modo and Stake.us are among those who have chosen to cut back on their Oklahoma operations before the full-scale ban hits.

Modo will remain active but scrap its Sweeps Coins model. Players will be restricted to playing with only Gold Coins that hold no monetary value.

Stake.us is allowing players in Oklahoma to redeem their current batch of SC before the end of October. It will cease all activity in the state after that date.

Wyoming on the Fence Over Sweepstakes

In Wyoming, meanwhile, the Wyoming Select Committee on Gaming met to discuss the future of sweeps in the state. A decision is unlikely until next year, with the midterms and various budget conversations set to dominate.

There are competing bills on sweepstakes that could determine their future in Wyoming. One bill would completely outlaw sweepstakes casinos, while another would accommodate proper regulation.