Bensalem Township unanimously voted to ban skill games within the county during a meeting Monday night. The ban goes into effect in 10 days, according to the ordinance.
Bensalem Mayor, Joseph DiGirolamo, had received complaints of skill games proliferating across the township in recent years. He tasked Public Safety Director, William McVey, to gather more data on the machines.
McVey found that there were 100 machines in 2023, which increased to around 170 this year. Games can be found in restaurants, bars, convenient stores, and delis. McVey spoke about the risks they bring during the meeting.
“What really sticks out to me is the increased level of crime associated with these gaming machines because of no regulations. It could jeopardize the quality of life we have here in Bensalem.”
Parx Casino, which is located in Bensalem, has been a strong advocate for a tax, or an all out ban, of skill games throughout the state because of the business it takes away from retail and PA online casinos.
Bensalem stresses public safety as reason for ban
McVey spoke about notable crimes that have occurred in the township since 2023. He hopes the skill games ban accomplishes the following three items:
- Prioritizes public safety
- Maintains quality of life for all Bensalem residents
- Requires regulations for PA skill machines
The amount of skill games from 2023 to 2024 represented a 40% increase. McVey was worried what that could look like down the road.
“I can only imagine in five years from now [there will] be 1,000 of them, and who knows where that would stop.”
A business that possess a state-issued liquor license is able to offer skill games. They can do so under video surveillance and must place the machines in areas that are visible to employees and not accessible to children.
The township noted that it will not seize machines for non-compliance. However, it will impose fines and penalties.
POM responds to Bensalem ban
Pace-O-Matic (POM), a Georgia-based skill games manufacturer, has advocated for regulation for years in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Skill spokesperson, Mike Barley, issued a statement to PlayPennsylvania on Tuesday.
“Pennsylvania Skill is alarmed that Bensalem Twp. Supervisors would a measure that will hurt small family-owned businesses and fraternal clubs that benefit from the supplemental revenue from skill games. We intend to fight this ordinance on behalf of locations that operate legal skill games.“We take the welfare of the communities where our games are located seriously and agree that the number of illegal gambling machines cropping up in communities across the state is a problem. A ban that includes legal skill games, however, is not the answer. It only jeopardizes the livelihoods of small businesses and fraternal groups already struggling because of inflation and other economic issues.“We advocate for what Gov. Josh Shapiro s: skill game regulation and taxation legislation that will rid neighborhoods of illegal gambling machines, especially mini-casinos, without harming law-abiding business owners. The legislation also would provide tax revenue for the state to use on priorities such as transportation and mass transit.“Considering that the supervisors are basing the ordinance on a casino-written piece of legislation, Senate Bill 1142, this tells us all we need to know about who is driving this effort. This is about protecting an internationally-owned casino. We urge Bensalem Twp. to prioritize their local businesses and fraternal clubs and not Parx Casino.”
Philadelphia took similar measures earlier this year
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker instituted a ban of skill games into law in April of this year. The games are now prohibited in city gas stations and corner stores because of public safety concerns. She said during press conference:
“It is not okay to tempt our residents from low and moderate income neighborhoods with opportunities to gamble away their hard-earned dollars. It is not okay to give children purchasing candy an opportunity to gamble with their lunch money. It is not okay to create situations where those who are interested in mugging Philadelphians literally wait outside of gas stations in the middle of residential areas to rob people of money that they won.”
Other townships are also starting to track and/or limit skill games. Oil City has introduced a similar policy last month, too.
The city of Meadville voted on a location ordinance into effect that requires zoning licenses for an approved area. That limits the amount of skill games within the area.
As of now, the games are considered legal. However, the legality of the games rests in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which does not have a timetable.
