A proposed Pennsylvania gaming bill, HB 2801, could ban sweepstakes casinos while bringing skill-game machines under state regulation.
- HB 2801 could prohibit sweepstakes casinos in Pennsylvania.
- The bill would place skill games under the oversight of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control.
- It would also introduce taxation on the revenue of skill-game machines.
The proposed legislation comes as state lawmakers respond to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that classified skill games as slot machines under existing state law.
It would provide a regulatory framework for businesses operating the machines and introduce taxes on skill-game revenue.
The state’s gambling regulator, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), would oversee the proposed skill-game framework, with eligible venues like bars, restaurants, clubs, and qualified truck stops potentially permitted to operate a limited number of machines.
The bill also addresses sweepstakes gaming, and if HB 2801 passes in its current form, sweepstakes casino operators would be banned from offering their games in Pennsylvania
The legal status of sweepstakes casinos has been questioned across the U.S., with several state lawmakers and regulators assessing how the model fits within existing gambling legislation.
Pennsylvania already has a regulated gambling market covering online casinos, land-based casinos, sports betting, and fantasy contests. HB 2801 would add further restrictions to the state’s gaming sector while potentially creating a new legal framework for skill games.
The bill remains subject to the legislative process before potentially becoming law, and lawmakers will need to review and debate HB 2801 before it can advance.
Pennsylvania Businesses Face October 14 Skill-Game Machine Removal Deadline
While Pennsylvania lawmakers consider whether HB 2801 could provide a legal framework for skill games, businesses currently hosting these machines have until Oct. 14 to remove them.
This deadline comes as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s 120-day stay on its June ruling expires. The court determined that skill-game machines fall under the state’s definition of slot machines, meaning that they can only operate in facilities licensed by the PGCB under the current law.
Pennsylvania State Police have told businesses that the machines must be physically removed instead of simply switched off. Approximately 70,000 skill-game machines are estimated to remain in operation across the state.
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Dave Sunday, has also warned that businesses that fail to remove these machines could face enforcement action, including the seizure and forfeiture of machines, associated equipment, and money linked to their operation.
Criminal charges may also be pursued where appropriate.
