Frequently Asked Questions
Are Pennsylvania Skill games legal?
Pennsylvania Skill Games are 100% legal. The legal status was adjudicated by the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas in 2014. In its decision, the Common Pleas Court ruled that our Pennsylvania Skill Game is a true game of skill, and not a game of chance.
Our Compliance Team reports illegal games to law enforcement. We know that individuals who once used illegal machines are now utilizing legal Pennsylvania Skill Games. Over a nine-month period, an estimate of 100 illegal machines were replaced with legal Pennsylvania Skill Games.
What's the difference between a legal game of skill and gambling?
Legal games of skill, such as Pennsylvania Skill, and gambling are not the same.
Gambling is composed of three elements:
1. Consideration
2. Chance
3. Reward
A legal game of skill, like Pennsylvania Skill, has less than three elements of gambling. Plus, skill is needed to win. Legal games of skill are composed of:
1. Consideration
2. Skill
3. Reward.
Are legal games of skill the same as Video Game Terminals?
Pennsylvania Skill Games are legal and have been adjudicated in a Pennsylvania Court of Law and ruled a skill predominate game. Players utilizing Pennsylvania Skill Games can win every time based on skill and not chance.
Video Game Terminals, also known as VGTs, are a game of chance — like a slot machine — and prizes are awarded accordingly. Due to a 2017 legislative action, VGTs are now legally permitted in Truck Stops that meet a certain criteria.
Do Pennsylvania Skill games hurt the State Lottery?
Pennsylvania Skill and Pace-O-Matic have studied whether skill games have had an impact on casinos in the state by contracting with Dr. Peter Zaleski, of Meadows Metrics. Zaleski is a professor of economics at Villanova University.
According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the casino gaming industry saw $462.7 million in reported revenue in March 2022. That total surpassed the $432.5 million revenue record set back in November 2021.
According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, profits for the 2017/2018 fiscal year were at a record high of $4.2 billion. They distributed a record number of prizes of more than $2.7 billion and generated over $1 billion to benefit older Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania Skill Games have been in existence since 2014 and lottery revenue has increased all but one year. Now, they are at record highs. It is difficult to make a case that Pennsylvania Skill Games hurt the lottery when their profits have never been higher.
Pace-O-Matic Skill Games are also located in Virginia, known as Queen of Virginia, and the VA Lottery determined that their top lottery locations were at establishments that also had skill games.
Do casinos oppose Pennsylvania Skill games?
Unlike VGTs, most Pennsylvania casinos do not oppose Pennsylvania Skill Games. Pennsylvania Skill is only aware of one casino who opposes our games.
VGTs are essentially slot machines and casinos nearly universally oppose them being located at additional establishments.
Does the manufacturer, operator, and location pay taxes?
Yes. Pennsylvania Skill's manufacturer and game developer (Miele Manufacturing and Pace-O-Matic), Operators, and Locations have paid millions in sales and income taxes.
Pennsylvania Skill supports legislation that would further regulate and increase taxes on skill games. The state could see an additional $250 million or more in recurring annual revenue if the measure passes.
How do skill games support Pennsylvanians?
Pennsylvania Skill supports Manufacturing Jobs, Operators, Employees, Restaurants, and Charitable Donations.
Pennsylvania Skill creates manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth.
By working with Pennsylvania Skill approved operators, locations and players can support multi-generational small family businesses.
Skill games provide good jobs in Pennsylvania for manufacturing, operators, and locations.
Pennsylvania Skill can help generate critical revenue to help restaurants and small businesses.
Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving, created through donations from legal skill game operators across Pennsylvania, was started in 2018 and has provided over $2 million in donations to nonprofits, fire departments, first responders, schools, military service member groups, and other worthy organizations.
What is the difference between an Operator and a Location?
An Operator is a business who operates equipment or a machine. Miele Manufacturing only distributes Pennsylvania Skill games to approved Operators in the state. A location, such as a convenience store, would enter into an agreement with an operator to place Pennsylvania Skill games in their store.
A location is a place, such as a gas station, in which the general public can go into to purchase items or use their services.
Pennsylvania Skill games are not sold to the general public.
If you are interested in getting machines installed at your location, Contact Us!