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The state Supreme Court on Friday denied two requests to extend the deadline for lawmakers to legalize skill games, paving the way for the mass removal of the machines from bars, convenience stores, and social clubs, like American Legions and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
There are about 112 locations throughout Lycoming County with 70,000 across the Commonwealth.
Three lawmakers, including state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, a leading co-sponsor of legislation that calls for a $500-per-machine fee, and a consortium of skills game operators had filed emergency petitions asking the court to extend the enforcement deadline on skills games until Feb. 10, 2027.
The court Friday issued brief orders saying both requests were denied, without elaborating.
The court previously set the deadline for lawmakers to act on Oct. 13. But the deadline essentially passed Wednesday, after lawmakers left without addressing the issue since it was their final voting date before Oct. 13.
The games must be removed, not just switched off, or state police will seize the machines.
State House and Senate leadership could call members back to vote in the next week. Absent such a call, legislators will not return to Harrisburg until Oct. 19.
Concurrently, state police launched a webpage to give businesses and establishments additional resources and contact information about removing their skill games.
On June 15, the state high court ruled that skill games are slot machines and considered gambling devices.
Businesses now need a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board license to operate skill games, obtainable only by casinos and "truck stop establishments," police said.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said most are in bars, convenience stores and social clubs.
"Two business days before the 120-day stay is set to expire, three members of the General Assembly ask this court to double its current length, so that gambling declared illegal under this Court's ruling may continue throughout the Commonwealth until at least February of next year," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Susan E. Affronti.
She noted how the attorney general office believed the petition arrived too late and Yaw and the other two legislators "lack standing to obtain the relief they seek."
"Extension of the stay would not be warranted," Affronti said.
Petitioners reference "compromise" legislation that they have drafted, but which they acknowledge has yet to be introduced," Affronti said. But they do not explain why they did not introduce that legislation earlier, she added.
Affronti added the attorney general's office also believes there are many ways to expand current gaming law that may be readily implemented.
Any future legislative framework would likely require considerably different technology that would be capable of central monitoring and independent audit, she said.
"The machines at issue in the court's ruling do not have such capabilities and would still need to be heavily modified or replaced altogether," she stated.
Some local American Legions, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have said they are in danger of closing doors without the games operating.
The games provide significant revenue for operating expenses otherwise not in their budgets and the clubs provide a necessary place for veterans to assemble.
The possible insolvency of these organizations has been presented a month ago in a story by the Sun-Gazette as a major blow for those veterans who have served their country in times of war and peace in the military.
It also could cost jobs, including those at Miele Manufacturing in Muncy Township, where the games are made.
Because of this impending crisis, Yaw spoke at a rally for skill game legalization Tuesday at the state Capitol on the steps outside.
Yaw's co-sponsored bill, estimated with adding the fee he proposed to generate $300 million to $700 million in new revenue for the state, is supported by local state House lawmakers.
Yaw was joined in support by state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, co-sponsor of House Bill 2213, an accompanying bill.
The rally featured bright, yellow-colored posters with huge blue letters asking for being allowed to save the skill games and save small business.