FW to lose thousands of dollars due to skill games machine ban
A Montgomery County VFW hall said it's set to lose thousands of dollars every month in order to comply with the state ban on skill game machines.
The ban took effect at midnight on Wednesday, meaning state police can now remove active skill game machines from bars, convenience stores, and nonprofits.
#pennsylvania #fyp #news https://6abc.com/post/conshohocken-vfw-post-1074-lose-thousands-dollars-due-skill-games-machine-ban/19939335/
And now the details on the ban taking place across
the state of Pennsylvania today.
Those so-called skill games are now illegal outside
of casinos and truck stops.
Small business owners and veterans organizations say
those machines provide a boost to the bottom line.
Action News reporter Caroline Goggin live
for us in Conshohocken with the details.
Caroline, what are people saying?
Well, Greg, there are an estimated 70,000
of these skill game machines across the Commonwealth
in places like bars, gas stations, convenience stores,
and at VFW halls like this one here in Conshohocken.
The veterans inside tell me they hope the lawmakers of Harrisburg
will come back to the table to address this issue.
Inside VFW Post 1074, the so-called Conchy Casino is now empty.
These markings are left on the walls and these cords on the floor.
The four skill game machines that once sat
in this spot were wheeled away yesterday.
It was hard to appreciate the financial loss
that we're going to suffer now.
Bar steward Mike Shanley says
those machines generated tens of thousands of dollars.
Some months, close to $80,000.
The VFW was able to keep between 20 and 25% of that.
Money that Shanley says helped veterans and the community.
From the cheerleaders to the football players
to the food bank that we have in town,
that money all went to these organizations and to the veterans in need.
Now we don't have that anymore.
That's because the state Supreme Court ruled
in June that skill game machines are slot machines
and therefore illegal outside licensed casinos and truck stops.
The state legislature had 120 days to come up with a plan to tax
and regulate the machines, but that never happened.
We've been pretty vocal in Harrisburg.
Josh Urkel, the executive director of the Council
on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania,
says he supports regulations regarding these machines.
But his bigger focus is making sure the people
who use them are protected.
We need to have regulations in place and tools
and protections if they're going to be allowed to continue.
And if they're not going to be allowed to continue,
we need to have an amplified message that there is help available.
Back at the VFW, they're hoping lawmakers can compromise
as they scramble to make up for the lost revenue.
And I understand you want to tax it, I'm fine with that,
but it has to be at a lot lower level.
Now, Governor Josh Shapiro had proposed
a tax rate of 52% for these skill game machines
that could be in line with slot machines here in Pennsylvania.
Urkel, who you heard from, said that about 100 people every single year
reached out to his council and report that skill games
are the most problematic form of gambling for them.
So he's urging anyone at home who does need help, especially right now,
as this has become a very relevant topic, to call 1-800-GAMBLER.
We're live tonight in Conshohocken,
and I'm Caroline Goggin for Action News at 10 on PHL 17.
Right.
Okay, opinions on both sides of this.
Okay, Caroline, thank you for that report.