Pennsylvania skill games could face a new layer of consumer protections under House Bill 2557, a measure introduced by Rep. Ben Waxman and sent to the House Gaming Oversight Committee.
Key Takeaways
- HB 2557 would add consumer protections for Pennsylvania skill games.
- Players would need identity verification and must be at least 21 to use covered skill-game machines.
- The bill would set loss limits, slow gameplay and restrict machines to liquor-licensed or approved 21-and-over locations.
The bill would apply to electronic gaming devices that accept money, offer payouts and operate in a way similar to slot machines. It would also cover devices marketed as skill games. The proposal does not legalize the machines by itself. Instead, it would take effect if lawmakers separately approve a legal and tax structure for them.
Waxman’s measure would require players to verify their identity before using a covered device. That could be done through a government-issued identification card or an account system approved by regulators. The machines would have to block anyone without valid identification and anyone under 21.
The bill also sets out responsible gambling controls.
Players would have to choose a daily loss limit before starting a session. The default limit could not exceed $250, although regulators could set a lower amount. Players could reduce the limit during play, but could not raise it in the same session.
The measure also proposes that gameplay would slow down. Each device would need at least five seconds between plays. After 15 minutes of continuous use, play would pause for at least 30 seconds. During that break, players would see how long they had played and how much they had wagered.
The measure would bar skill games from gas stations and convenience stores. Devices would be limited to liquor-licensed premises and approved 21-and-over gaming areas. Each establishment could host no more than five machines.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Wider online gambling bills target deposits, credit cards and marketing
The skill-games proposal sits alongside a separate bipartisan push aimed at online gambling safeguards in Pennsylvania.
Reps. Tarik Khan and Jamie Flick announced a package focused on problem gambling, consumer protection and responsible gaming. The measures apply to online casinos and sportsbooks, which have given Pennsylvanians continuous access to gambling through mobile devices and computers since legalization nearly a decade ago.
The centerpiece is the Pennsylvania Online Consumer Protection Act. It would set limits on how often players can deposit money into online gambling accounts during a 24-hour period. It would also restrict marketing practices such as push notifications and text-message solicitations.
The bill would add protections against advertising aimed at young people and expand funding for prevention, education, treatment and responsible gaming programs.
A second measure would prohibit players from using credit cards to fund online gambling accounts. It is planned as a House companion to Senate Bill 265. Supporters present the credit card ban as a way to reduce gambling-related debt tied to borrowed money.
The third bill would strengthen Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion system. It would prohibit gambling operators from sending advertisements, promotions, bonuses or other marketing material to people who have voluntarily placed themselves on the self-exclusion list.
That proposal would act as a House companion to Senate Bill 266.
