The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has been praised for delivering “a blow to illegal gambling and a victory for families and communities,” as Parx Casino urges law enforcement to take action.
In a new decision the court has ruled that video game machines manufactured and distributed by the company POM under the name ‘Pennsylvania Skill’ are considered slot machines under the region’s law.
POM had argued that their machines should actually be considered a game of skill and therefore not a slot machine. The manufacture, set up, sale, lease, or ownership of a slot machine for gambling purposes is illegal under the Keystone State’s Crime Code, Title 18 Section 5513, and these machines are subject to forfeiture under the law.
“With this decision, we urge the Pennsylvania State Police, the Office of Attorney General, police departments and District Attorneys across the state to enforce Pennsylvania law to halt the proliferation of thousands of illegal Pennsylvania Skill slot machines now in convenience stores, bars, restaurants and other establishments in communities across the state,” commented Thomas Bonner, group VP of legal and chief counsel for Parx Casino.
The Commonwealth Court’s clarification that the Pennsylvania Skill games are slot machines under state law has been lauded for providing “concrete and clear legal justification for law enforcement at the state and local levels”. Such offerings are to be confiscated and those responsible for manufacturing, distributing, leasing, or owning the machines prosecuted.
Bonner added: “We know that illegal slot machines and full-blown illegal casinos are popping up all over Pennsylvania. We know that minors are gambling, and we know that the state lottery is losing tens of millions of dollars that should be going to our seniors because of these illegal machines. It’s time to confiscate these machines and put these illegal casinos out of business.”