The North East borough of Erie, Pennsylvania hosted a council meeting on Monday night to discuss the possibility regulating skill games. The machines are controversial, due to concerns that they effectively turn small businesses into miniature casinos. Unlike licensed gambling products, they don’t pay privilege taxes, either.
The games have been popping up all over town, according to borough president, Ryan McGregor. A proposed ordinance has been discussed to target businesses with a large number of skill games.
The Commonwealth Court ruled skill games as legal back in December. However, the games operate in a gray area, which means they are not regulated.
VFWs advocate for skill games as it raises concerns
Erie county is starting to take notice of skill games that have proliferated across the borough. McGregor is spearheading an ordinance that would limit the number of machines without banning them outright. He told Erie News Now:
“This is a way to make sure we’re having these machines in places that are maintaining certain standards in of people who are using them, age-wise and also making sure they’re in places we want to have them in the borough.”
Social clubs, including Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organizations, went to bat for skill games. They are required to give a portion of its earning back into the community.
McGregor is noted that skill games inside social clubs will continued to be allowed. He said:
“The ones that supplement a business, like our clubs and social groups, they have machines at the bars. We are perfectly fine with that.”
Social club owners did raise concerns about other establishments offering skill games because of the gray area. Sam Rizzo, Brotherhood of St. Joseph’s Club president, added:
“Other people in this town that have tried to put these machines in are not regulated by the government. They don’t have to pay machine taxes and they don’t have to give money back to the community like we do.”
Other counties have discussed skill games ordinances
Despite the games not being regulated, counties across the state have taken matters into their own hands. Many boroughs have either instituted ordinances or have discussed them.
Meadville City held a vote to discuss the future of the machines in its township.
Old City even discussed a tax for skill games owners, which would benefit the municipals pools.
The games are likely to be headed for state regulation, as Gov. Josh Shapiro introduced bills that include regulation and a tax framework.
