Court rules against ‘Pennsylvania Skill’ machines

Campaigners are calling on Pennsylvania’s authorities to confiscate thousands of gambling machines at establishments across the state after a court ruled that they are defined as slot machines. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court confirmed in a ruling on Wednesday that video game machines manufactured and distributed POM of Pennsylvania, which trades under the names Pace-O-Matic and Savvy Dog Systems, and markets the games using the term ‘Pennsylvania Skill’ are considered “slot machines” under Pennsylvania law. POM, which which trades under the names Pace-O-Matic and Savvy Dog Systems, is though to have as many as 5,000 of the machines in operation, in convenience stores, bars, restaurants and other establishments. The ruling was made as part of an ongoing action filed last year by POM against state authorities. The manufacturer requested that the Department of Revenue and the City of Philadelphia should be instructed to cease seizing or threatening to seize POM equipment and arresting or prosecuting persons in connection with operation of POM games. In a counterclaim, the Department of Revenue requested that POM be ordered to remove its machines from all Pennsylvania establishments and cease further sale and distribution of its machines within Pennsylvania unless and until POM obtains the proper licenses from the Gaming Control Board. POM argued that their machines were a “game of skill” and therefore not a slot machine under Pennsylvania law, and that they were not under the remit of the Gaming Act. Read the full story on iGB North America.