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A Pennsylvania lawmaker is circulating legislation aimed at imposing strict consumer protections on skill games, as debate over the controversial machines continues in Harrisburg.
Rep. Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia) issued a co-sponsorship memo this week outlining a proposal that would regulate the devices while prioritizing player safeguards and local control.
Skill games, often found in convenience stores, bars, and gas stations, remain unregulated in Pennsylvania, creating ongoing tension between the skill game industry, lawmakers, and the state’s regulated gaming sector.
Centralized oversight under PGCB
Waxman’s proposal would require any legalized skill games to be connected to a centralized monitoring system overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, aligning them more closely with the state’s existing casino framework.
The move would bring greater transparency and oversight to a market that currently operates outside the state’s regulated gaming system.
Player protections mirror online gambling rules
The memo calls for a series of player protection measures that mirror responsible gambling standards used in Pennsylvania online casinos and Pennsylvania sportsbooks.
Those include limits on play speed, mandatory breaks, daily loss caps, and a ban on deceptive design features.
Additionally, the legislation would extend Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program – currently used for online and retail gambling – to cover skill game players.
Limits on locations, local control
Location restrictions are another key component of the proposal.
Waxman suggests limiting or outright prohibiting skill games in gas stations and convenience stores, while giving municipalities the authority to ban or restrict the machines within their jurisdictions.
The approach would allow local governments to decide how widely the devices can operate in their communities.
Funding for problem gambling programs
The memo also proposes directing a portion of skill game revenue toward problem gambling treatment and prevention programs.
As gaming access continues to expand across Pennsylvania, funding for responsible gambling initiatives has become an increasing focus for lawmakers.
Debate over skill games continues
The proposal does not yet exist as a formally introduced bill, but the memo represents an early step in gathering legislative support.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have debated skill game regulation for years without reaching consensus. Proposals have ranged from full legalization and taxation to outright bans, with disagreements often centering on tax rates, oversight, and how the machines compare to slot machines. Here are some of the ideas and legislation:
- Sen. Gene Yaw: Introduced SB 626, which enacts a 16% tax on the machines
- Sen. Gene Yaw: Introduced SB 1079, establishing fees
- Sen. Chris Gebhard: Introduced SB 756, which includes a 35% tax on the machines
- Rep. Kerry Benninghoff: Introduced HB 1619, which would place no additional tax on the games
- Rep. Danilo Burgos: Introduced HB 2046, establishing fees and cutting taxes for Category 4 mini-casinos
Rep. Burgos introduced another bill this year, which also generates fees.
In his memo, Waxman framed his approach as a middle ground – acknowledging the likelihood that skill games will be addressed legislatively, while insisting that any framework prioritize consumer safety.
“If skill games are going to be regulated, they should be designed to minimize harm.”
The measure adds another voice to an already crowded conversation in Harrisburg, as lawmakers once again weigh how – or whether – to bring skill games into Pennsylvania’s regulated gaming market.
