Starting next month, the Pennsylvania State Police plan to begin seizing illegal skill games at businesses all throughout the state. On Thursday, officials with the Pennsylvania State Police announced a deadline of Oct. 13, 2026 for business owners to remove any “skill game” device that they might have on premises, as law enforcement officials plan to begin seizing the devices on Oct. 14, 2026. These types of “skill game” devices can be found in taverns, pizza parlors, mini-marts, social clubs, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses all across the state, officials noted. But, following a ruling by the state Supreme Court in June that found these devices to be defined as “slot machines” under the state’s gaming act, it will soon be illegal to operate these devices without a license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Law enforcement officials noted that, in Pennsylvania, only licensed casinos and, what officials called “qualifying, licensed truck stop establishments” would be permitted to possess, operate and maintain any slot machines or gaming terminals that have been inspected and approved for operation by the Pa. Gaming Control Board. Any device that would be considered a slot machine under the state’s gaming act, as skills games were found to be considered, would then be subject to seizure as of Oct. 14, 2026, officials said. Officials with the Pa. State Police said business owners could also be subject to prosecution for owning and operating unlicensed skills games beyond the October deadline. Also with the seizure of these devices, officials said, law enforcement officials could seize money associated with the operation of these machines and criminal charges could be filed when appropriate. Police are telling business owners that fear they may be in violation of the skills game regulations to discuss removal of the machine with any distributors or vendors that may own the machines. Also, officials said, simply unplugging or turning off the machines beyond the October deadline will not be considered enough action to comply with the law. Officials are asking any business owner who finds a vendor or distributor who will not remove the machines by the Oct. 13, 2026 deadline to contact the Pa. State Police through the agency’s website. ...read more read less