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Tag: Skill games

  • New Poll Finds Majority of Virginia Voters Support Commonsense Skill Game Regulation

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    Survey also finds Virginians are most concerned about economic issues; skill games create jobs, support small businesses and generate revenue without raising taxes


    RICHMOND, Va., October 24, 2025 (Newswire.com)
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    Today, the Virginia Merchants and Amusement Coalition (VA MAC) released the results of a statewide public opinion poll, which found that the majority of Virginia voters continue to support commonsense regulation for skill games.

    These findings are consistent with previous polling that demonstrates voters are still supportive of the language in Senate Bill 212, which passed the General Assembly in 2023 with overwhelming bipartisan support before it was vetoed by Governor Youngkin. If passed, this legislation would have supported thousands of small businesses that rely on skill game income to create jobs, pay competitive wages, and, in many cases, keep their doors open. The bill would have also benefited the entire Commonwealth by generating new annual tax revenue without jeopardizing any existing revenue streams.

    “Once again, these polling results confirm what we already know to be true – Virginia voters support commonsense legislation for skill games,” said Rich Kelly, President of VA MAC. “VA MAC, along with our small business members, is committed to working with the Legislature next session toward a solution that supports local small businesses, boosts tax revenue for the Commonwealth, and rids the state of illegal gambling machines.”

    VA MAC only supports Queen of Virginia Skill (QVS2) games, which have been affirmed as legal by a Virginia court. The organization also supports the legislation as it would give law enforcement tools to better identify, track, and prosecute illegal gambling operations and “mini-casino” slot parlors.

    The poll, conducted by Hart Research, also found that an overwhelming majority of Virginians are most concerned about economic issues and feel that rising costs and lower taxes should be priorities of the Governor and Legislature. Skill games directly address these concerns by creating and sustaining local jobs, keeping small businesses open, and keeping dollars circulating within local communities. Perhaps most importantly, the tax revenue generated through skill games means the state can fund essential services without imposing new taxes on individuals who are already feeling economic pressure.

    The following are key findings from the poll:

    • When provided with a brief, factual description of Senate Bill 212, a solid plurality (48%) of Virginians expressed support for the measure.

    • Among those that expressed strong support for the skill game legislation are Black voters (64% support), Democrats (58%), and white voters aged 18-34 (57%).

    • When breaking down elements of the skill game legislation, voters strongly supported the age prohibition and the fact that it would mean new revenue generated for the state budget:

      • 66% of voters are in favor of a 21-and-over age restriction for skill games

      • 63% of voters support skill game legislation because it would generate over $150 million in new tax revenue for the state

      • 59% of voters support skill game legislation because skill games are operated by Virginia small businesses, which earn the majority of the revenue (unlike out-of-state and internationally owned casinos)

    The survey, conducted between September 30 and October 10, 2025, polled 605 likely general election voters by landline, cell phone, and text-to-web. The survey is fully representative of a Virginia statewide electorate by key demographics. Read a memo on the poll here.

    Contact Information

    Christina Freundlich
    christina@pod3strategies.com

    Source: Virginia Merchants and Amusement Coalition

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  • New Poll Finds Majority of PA Voters Oppose Senate Bill 756 – Legislation to Impose the Highest Tax Increase on Small Businesses and Organizations in State’s History

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    Survey also finds Pennsylvanians believe lowering taxes should be Legislature’s top focus


    HARRISBURG, Pa., August 28, 2025 (Newswire.com)
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    A recent poll released by the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) found that a majority of Pennsylvania voters oppose Senate Bill 756, which aims to implement the largest tax increase on small businesses and non-profit organizations in the commonwealth’s history. That majority, 48% plurality, jumped to 67% in opposition when voters learn more specifics about the bill. Read a memo on the poll linked here.

    If passed, SB 756, would impose a 35% tax on skill games (over 40% when factoring in additional fees), jeopardizing the livelihoods of many small business owners and their employees, as well as threatening many non-profit fraternal organizations, including American Legions and VFWs.

    “Today, a plurality of voters oppose Senate Bill 756. When informed of the intentions and consequences of Bill 756, opposition increases drastically across the board. Additionally, Pennsylvanians recognize a clear distinction between games of skill and games of chance. Respondents do not support hefty taxes on small businesses and fraternal clubs that operate skill games,” said pollster John McLaughlin of McLauglin & Associates.

    Reasons voters give for why they oppose the SB 756 are largely economic-focused, including disagreeing with unnecessary over-taxation and acknowledging the harm this legislation would do to small businesses.

    “These results confirm what we know to be true, that the majority of Pennsylvanians do not support crippling taxation on our struggling small businesses and important community organizations,” said Doug Sprankle, President of PA TAP. “In a challenging economy, with ever-rising costs, lawmakers in Harrisburg should be focused on helping small businesses and community groups – not taxing them out of existence.”

    The survey also found that clear majorities agree that overtaxing skill games would be detrimental to Pennsylvania as a whole. For instance:

    • 62% of voters agree that “higher taxes could force businesses and organizations to remove skill games because they cannot afford the astronomical tax, and the state will end up receiving less tax revenue”.

    • 55% of voters agree that “higher taxes from Senate Bill 756 would create an opening for underground, illegal gambling operations that avoid the high tax”.

    • 54% agree that “if skill games are overtaxed and overregulated, thousands of small businesses and social clubs will lose critical income they need to keep their doors open.”

    Opposition to SB 756 increased when voters were fully informed that: additional fees on top of the 35% tax rate would go to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board which has been known to actively work to ban skill games; that this bill would likely force many small businesses and clubs to close; that other states have successfully taxed skill games at a reasonable rate; and that this bill would impose the largest tax hike on small businesses in Pennsylvania history.

    Lastly, when asked what they felt was the one thing the Governor and State Legislature should focus on to best help Pennsylvanians and their families, an overwhelming majority of voters said tax reform and lower taxes.

    “Clearly, precedent-setting tax hikes are not popular among voters,” added Sprankle. “Lawmakers should instead consider bipartisan, commonsense legislation soon to be filed by Senator Gene Yaw and Senator Anthony Williams. This legislation would reasonably regulate and fairly tax skill games while supporting – not harming – Pennsylvania’s small businesses and fraternal clubs.”

    The poll, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, surveyed likely November 2026 General Election Voters in Pennsylvania from August 7-11, 2025.

    About PA TAP

    Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) helps protect member businesses, fraternal clubs, volunteer fire companies, and veterans’ organizations in challenging economic times. PA TAP’s mission is to help members succeed financially through legislative efforts beneficial to their stability and growth. Learn more here.

    Source: Pennsylvania Taverns & Players Association

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  • Stroudsburg Borough Council imposing tax on skill games

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    Stroudsburg Borough Council will impose a tax on skill games.

    During the Aug. 19 borough council meeting, an ordinance establishing a tax on skill games was passed. The ordinance defines a skill game machine as “Any electronic, mechanical, or electro-mechanical device” that takes “payment in cash or electronic cash equivalent to play” and provides “a game or activity in which a player can win cash or credit redeemable for cash.”

    The ordinance will require businesses that feature a skill game to obtain a license from the borough. An annual tax will be imposed on each skill game within the borough at a rate that will be set by council through resolution. The same resolution will establish the fee operators will pay annually.

    Operators must register new machines within 30 days of their introduction to their premises. Registration must be done annually and the tax must be paid each year by Feb. 1. Taxes not paid by the due date will be subject to a 12% penalty on the amount due and 10% interest per annum.

    Of interest: Monroe County conducting property reassessment using satellite technology

    If there are more than three skill games at a location, there must be “an additional staff member clearly identified as a security guard.”

    The penalty for operating an unregistered skill game or otherwise violating the ordinance is a fine of up to $300, or up to 90 days in jail.

    The ordinance excludes traditional arcade games. Other exemptions include devices “used solely for children’s amusement,” non-game coin machines such as jukeboxes and vending machines, and devices “where 100% of net proceeds benefit community projects or organizations.”

    Council President Matthew Abell told the Pocono Record during public comment that at least 10 to 12 establishments in Stroudsburg have skill game machines. Council member J. Zac Christman estimated that there were between 30 and 40 individual machines, and borough engineer Kylie Shoemaker said that some establishments have “nearly a dozen machines.”

    Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

    This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Stroudsburg Borough Council approves taxing skill games

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  • Kentucky Lawsuit Seeks to Reimburse Gray Machine Gambling Losses

    Kentucky Lawsuit Seeks to Reimburse Gray Machine Gambling Losses

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    A new lawsuit filed in Kentucky seeks to recover millions of lost dollars by players engaging with “gray machines,” a type of cash payout game that proliferated in many convenience stores and gas stations across the state. The lawsuit, brought by the nonprofit organization Empathy in Action, aims to reimburse people who have lost money gambling on these contentious devices, which resemble slot machines but operate in a gray legal area.

    Dealing with the Devices Remains a Pressing Issue for Kentucky

    The legal action invokes Kentucky’s 226-year-old Loss Recovery Act, which allows third parties to recover money lost from illegal gambling. This same law was successfully used in 2011 when the state won a $300 million judgment against PokerStars, an illegal online poker operator. Lead attorney Vanessa Cantley now hopes to apply that same law to go after the companies responsible for gray machines.

    Gray machines have a long history of controversy in Kentucky. Known to many as “skill games,” these devices resemble gambling devices but don’t fall into any clear legal category. The ambiguity encouraged Kentucky lawmakers to approve House Bill 594 in 2023, banning the machines and redefining what constitutes a gambling device. 

    Despite the state’s efforts, enforcing this measure has proven difficult, with new machines continuing to appear in various establishments. In July 2024, the legal battle against gray machines marked another success when Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd reaffirmed the state’s ban. Attorney General Russell Coleman praised the decision, saying it was a step toward preventing the unchecked spread of gambling.

    This New Lawsuit Could Set a Precedent for Other States

    Critics say the machines have contributed to the most significant expansion of gambling in Kentucky’s history. Pace-O-Matic and Prominent Technologies, the two most prominent companies that produce and distribute these devices, argue that they are legitimate skill-based games and should not fall under the same strict restrictions as gambling offerings. 

    Cantley’s lawsuit aims to shed light on this contentious industry by forcing the gray machine companies to disclose financial information, such as how much Kentuckians have spent on these games over the past five years. She estimates the amount lost to gray machines could be in the millions, given the ubiquity of the machines across the state.

    Our hope is that in the discovery process of the lawsuit, they’ll be compelled to turn over the information.

    Vanessa Cantley, Empathy in Action lead attorney

    The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications beyond Kentucky. The case, if successful, could set a precedent in holding gaming companies accountable for losses on unregulated devices, potentially leading to significant industry changes across the country as other states take inspiration from Kentucky’s legal approach.

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    Deyan Dimitrov

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  • New Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Strongly Support Reforming Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

    New Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Strongly Support Reforming Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

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    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    An overwhelming number of Pennsylvanians support broad reforms of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), according to a poll released today by the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP).

    Read a memo on the polling here.

    The poll, commissioned by CYGNAL polling, gauged Pennsylvanians’ opinions on proposed reforms to the PGCB. Those reforms include reducing member salaries, implementing mandatory ethics training, increasing penalties for not disclosing meetings with the businesses or agents of those the PGCB regulates, and biennial audits to measure compliance with transparency.

    The PGCB is the licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.

    Doug Sprankle, president of PA TAP, an organization comprised of hundreds of locations that support skill games and operators who maintain the games, stated: “Pennsylvanians are unified in support of reforming the PGCB. These reforms are desperately needed because media reports have uncovered a cozy relationship between casinos and the PGCB. The PGCB is supposed to regulate the casinos, not take their orders.

    “PA TAP is particularly concerned about the inappropriate and secret meetings casino lobbyists had to successfully influence the PGCB to attack legal skill games,” added Sprankle. 

    The poll, conducted from June 14-16, 2024, included likely Pennsylvania general election voters who signaled strong support for reforms to the PGCB.

    When asked if they would support further penalties for any Board or staff member, as well as casino operators, staff or designees for failing to post meetings on publicly available logs as currently required, 69.1% support reforms, while only 10.5% oppose.

    Most voters, 74.5%, support decreasing the salary of PGCB members from $145,000 annually to $90,000, which is consistent with other state board appointments.

    Even more voters, 77.8%, support biennial audits to ensure that the PGCB fully complies with the Gaming Act and checks to ensure the Board is operating with full openness and transparency.

    Requiring all Board members and executive staff to take mandatory annual ethics training is supported by 71.9% of voters, and opposed by 10.2%.

    About PA TAP

    Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) helps protect member businesses, fraternal clubs, volunteer fire companies and veterans’ organizations in challenging economic times. PA TAP’s mission is to help members succeed financially through legislative efforts beneficial to their stability and growth. Learn more here.

    Source: Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association

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  • New Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Strongly Support Skill Games

    New Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Strongly Support Skill Games

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    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 15, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    A majority of voters support a reasonable 16% tax on legal skill games and say they are less likely to vote for an elected official who favors a higher, crushing tax rate on the games, according to a poll released today by the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP). Read a memo on the polling linked here.

    The poll commissioned by CYGNAL polling gauged Pennsylvanians’ opinions on skill games and aspects of the legislature’s plans to tax and regulate the gaming devices. 

    Doug Sprankle, president of PA TAP, an organization comprised of hundreds of locations that support skill games and operators who maintain the games, stated: “Polling results show that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support a compromise solution that would fairly tax and regulate skill games. They understand the important role supplemental revenue generated from these games plays in supporting small businesses and fraternal clubs. 

    “They also understand the difference between regulation and overregulation. We are hopeful the Legislature will heed the advice of Pennsylvanians and fairly regulate and tax skill games and the small businesses and fraternal clubs they support,” added Sprankle. 

    The poll, conducted from June 14-16, 2024, included likely Pennsylvania general election voters and showed that a significant majority (50.5%) oppose a ban on skill games, compared to just 28.7% supporting a ban.

    Over 50%, (50.1%) support state lawmakers working on a compromise proposal that would regulate and tax skill games, with only 29.3% opposing.

    By a margin of 49.7% to 25.7%, a majority of those polled also understand that skill games, which require a player’s skills, are not the same as slot machines, which are based on pure chance.

    Voters polled don’t believe skill games harm other gaming revenues, including slots, iGaming, or lottery. 

    Lastly, voters were asked their opinion on an appropriate skill game tax rate. PA TAP and other supporters of skill games say a 16% tax rate on skill games is affordable for small businesses and fraternal clubs. This tax rate would provide $250 million in new revenue to the state in just the first year of taxation. Opponents want to see a 54% tax, which is the rate applied to casino slot machines. 

    The overwhelming majority of voters polled oppose lawmakers applying the crippling 54% tax rate on skill games operated by small businesses, American Legions, VFWs, volunteer fire companies and other fraternal clubs. In addition, the vast majority (54.7%) say they are less likely to support a lawmaker who votes for a 54% tax rate, as opposed to 17.6% who would.

    Conversely, nearly 60% (58.9%) of voters say they support applying a reasonable tax rate of 16% on skill games, which would allow locations with the games to keep more profit, with only 17.6% opposed.

    Learn more about PA TAP here.

    Source: Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association

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  • Youngkin amends Virginia ‘skill games’ legislation, takes other action on final batch of bills – WTOP News

    Youngkin amends Virginia ‘skill games’ legislation, takes other action on final batch of bills – WTOP News

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    Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed a rewrite of legislation intended to legalize and tax skill games, adding stiff new restrictions that industry supporters argued would still amount to a de facto ban of the slots-like gambling machines hosted by small businesses.

    Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)(AP/Steve Helber)

    RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed a rewrite of legislation intended to legalize and tax skill games, adding stiff new restrictions that industry supporters argued would still amount to a de facto ban of the slots-like gambling machines hosted by small businesses.

    The governor put forward amendments late Monday that overhaul a measure the General Assembly sent him in March, calling for a higher tax rate on the receipts from the machines, and a provision allowing localities to prohibit them. The proposed changes also add placement restrictions on the arcade-style games, banning them within about a half-mile of churches, day cares and houses of worship, and seemingly excluding them in many metro areas that already host a gambling establishment such as a casino.

    While skill-games supporters vowed to fight the proposed changes, Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement “the added protections” the governor is seeking address “serious concerns with the regulatory structure, tax rates, the number of machines, impact on the Virginia Lottery and broader public safety implications” of the legislation.

    The skill-games bill was one of dozens Youngkin took action on late Monday, as he ran up against a deadline to act on measures sent to his desk during the regular session that ended March 9.

    The governor, a Republican, vetoed measures that would have set up a prescription drug affordability board and allowed all localities to hold a referendum on raising sales taxes to help fund school construction. He amended a Democratic priority measure that aimed to protect the right to access contraception. And he signed off on measures expanding the state’s revenge porn law and establishing 18 as the minimum age for marriage.

    Of the 1,046 bills sent to him this year by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, he signed a total of 777, amended 116 — including the state budget — and vetoed 153, his office said. Youngkin has vetoed more bills in this year alone than any of his seven immediate predecessors did over their entire four-year terms, according to an accounting by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

    Lawmakers will reconvene in Richmond next week to consider his amendments. They could also attempt to override his vetoes, though Democrats would need Republicans to join with them to reach the necessary 2/3 vote threshold.

    The skill games debate is a rare issue that has not fallen along partisan lines. A coalition formed to push for legalization this year centered the voices of the small-business owners who hosted the machines in establishments like gas stations and restaurants and shared in their profits before a ban first passed in 2020 took effect.

    Rich Kelly, a restaurant owner and the president of the coalition, said in a statement Monday that Youngkin’s amendments were “devastating” and would effectively ban the machines by prohibiting them within within 35 miles of any casino, racetrack or gambling “satellite facility.” Virginia has casinos in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth, and allows wagers on live horse races and another form of slots-like betting in historical horse race wagering parlors around the state.

    Youngkin’s proposed tax rate of 45% would also make skill games the highest taxed good in Virginia, Kelly said.

    For years, policymakers in Virginia and around the country have been grappling with how to regulate the machines, which look similar to slot machines but involve an element of skill, their manufacturers say. Virginia lawmakers first voted to ban skill games in 2020 as they were opening the door to casinos.

    Operators got a reprieve after then-Gov. Ralph Northam asked lawmakers to delay the ban by a year and instead tax the machines and use the revenue for COVID-19 relief. The ban took effect in July 2021 but was challenged in court and put on hold for a while amid that fight.

    Bill sponsor Aaron Rouse, a Democratic senator from Virginia Beach, said in a statement that he would work to block Youngkin’s amendments and “do everything possible to make the interests of small businesses – not casinos or massive out-of-state corporations – a priority.”

    A coalition opposing skill game legalization that counts the state’s casinos among its members said in a statement that it was still reviewing the amendments but it appreciated the governor’s “more thoughtful approach” to a measure that would have “led to an unprecedented expansion of gambling in Virginia.”

    If both legislative chambers agree to Youngkin’s entire set of amendments when they meet next week, the bill as amended would become law. If lawmakers only accept certain amendments, the bill would be returned to Youngkin, who could either sign or veto it.

    In other action late Monday, Youngkin approved a pair of mental health reform bills that stemmed from the death of Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man whose death last year while in custody at a state mental hospital sparked outrage and led to both legal charges and a wrongful death settlement.

    Youngkin also sought amendments to two pieces of legislation that touch on organizations related to the Confederacy in a way that means lawmakers would have to approve them again next year before they could take effect. One of the bills would would have ended a tax perk currently enjoyed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the other would have ended the issuance of special license plates honoring Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

    Copyright
    © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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    WTOP Staff

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  • Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition Launches Campaign to Fight Illegal Gambling

    Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition Launches Campaign to Fight Illegal Gambling

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    Local grassroots organization rolls out radio and digital ads supporting legislation

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 6, 2023 20:01 EST


    FRANKFORT, Ky., January 6, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition (KY MAC) today launched a campaign aimed at eliminating illegal gambling in Kentucky. The organization, which is focused on supporting local small businesses, is calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that would create additional regulations on legal skill games while cracking down on illegal gaming operations. The effort will include radio and digital advertisements across the state highlighting the problem.

    “KY MAC is working closely with Kentucky lawmakers to pass legislation that would not only eliminate unregulated gaming operations but also generate additional tax revenue for the state from legal skill games,” said Wes Jackson, KY MAC President. “As an organization, our goal is to support legitimate sources of entertainment, such as billiards and skill games, that inject money into the commonwealth. We are small business owners, we are community stewards, and we are Kentuckians against illegal gambling.” 

    KY MAC wants to stop illegal gambling because it harms communities as well as hard-working small business owners and fraternal clubs. Much of the money from those games leaves the state, and those operations jeopardize the success of legitimate establishments.

    Skill games, which are proven economic drivers for small businesses, require a player to use their skill, patience, and hand-eye dexterity to win. Skill games are specifically designed to not meet the definition of gambling as they remove the factor of chance and replace it with predominant skill. 

    “Skill games are proven to bring in supplemental income to Kentucky small businesses throughout the state,” said Tim Crisante, secretary for KY MAC. “Similar to pool and darts, skill games offer entertainment to patrons who stay longer, enjoy food and beverages, and spend additional dollars as these establishments. The legislation we support not only creates additional regulation around skill games, but it also cracks down on illegitimate gambling halls. It’s a win for Kentucky.” 

    Listen to the radio ad here. 

    About KY MAC

    The Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition (KY MAC) represents the interests of Kentucky small businesses, fraternal clubs, and veteran organizations throughout the Commonwealth. It is a 501(C)(4) organization comprised of bars, restaurants, clubs, lodges, and social organizations, including American Legions and VFWs. KY MAC advocates on behalf of over 250 members regarding state legislative issues with a commitment to helping them succeed financially, create jobs, and support their local communities.

    Source: Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition

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