State Sen. Gene Yaw on Monday said there is broad recognition of the need to regulate skill games.
Yaw, R-Williamsport, and Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, introduced bipartisan legislation to regulate skill games in the Commonwealth and crack down on illegal gaming and nuisance locations.
The lawmakers said their proposal builds on legislation introduced by Yaw for several sessions and incorporates language to prohibit skill games in “stop-and-go” stores, a long-time priority for Williams.
“This legislation delivers immediate revenue, supports small businesses and veterans’ organizations, and puts safeguards in place to protect our communities,” Yaw said. “Every concern raised by the public and by our colleagues in the legislature has been carefully considered and directly addressed in this bill. It’s time to move beyond the rhetoric and enact meaningful reform.”
The senators said Senate Bill 1079 replaces the originally proposed tax structure with a $500-per-skill-game-machine monthly fee, which the lawmakers say will generate revenue almost immediately.
They said revenue projections remain at approximately $300 million annually, and the new proposal allocates nearly half of the overall funding directly to public transportation and infrastructure costs, as well as to the state’s Clean Streams Fund.
Yaw and Williams said the legislation will strengthen penalties for those who operate unlicensed and illegal games and gambling devices. It also includes a valid ID requirement to play, a limit on the number of machines per establishment and requires games to only exist as a secondary source of revenue for the establishment.
They said the regulatory framework requires games to be connected to a terminal collection and control system that allows the Commonwealth to monitor all transactions, much like it does with the lottery.
“Communities across Pennsylvania have been asking us to take action on unregulated skill games and nuisance locations,” Williams said. “This bill is about fairness, safety and responsibility. It ensures that revenue is directed where it can do the most good, like supporting public transportation and infrastructure, while also giving our neighborhoods relief from the problems caused by illegal games.”
According to information provided by the two senators, stop-and-gos are generally understood to be businesses with restaurant or eating place retail liquor licenses that operate as convenience stores or delis, but fail to maintain minimum requirements for licensure.
They said Pennsylvania’s Stop-and-Go Legislative Taskforce is responsible for addressing issues around stop-and-go establishments in Philadelphia and is comprised of members of the state House and Senate, an appointee of the governor and an ex-officio member of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Williams and Yaw said this legislation will support the taskforce’s efforts to address the broader concerns around nuisance establishments that operate outside the law. By cracking down on stop-and-go stores that serve as hubs for illegal gaming and other disruptive activity, the lawmakers said the taskforce aims to restore safety, order and trust in local communities.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.