After recently announcing a plan to begin seizing skill game machines from businesses all across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, state police officials have provided new guidance for those who could be impacted by the upcoming effort.
On Monday, the Pennsylvania State Police released new guidance ahead of the looming Oct. 13, 2026, deadline after which law enforcement officials plan to begin seizing skills games from businesses across the state.
The seizures come after 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.
Because of this ruling, 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 following the Oct. 13, 2026, deadline.
On Monday, Pa. State Police said those who could be impacted by the looming deadline can find guidance ahead of the seizures here.
But, officials said, those who have questions can use the following resources:
After the deadline, state police officials said, it will be considered a criminal offense to maintain, assemble, set up, make, sell or lease slot machines unless they are licensed and authorized to do so by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Come Oct. 14, 2026, officials said, police will seize all “skill games” devices/slot machines located outside of PGCB-licensed businesses and all establishments possessing, operating and/or maintaining such machines will be subject to criminal prosecution.
Officials also said that other enforcement actions could be taken against businesses that continue to possess, operate and/or maintain such machines after that date.
“Enforcement actions may include seizing and forfeiting the machines, associated equipment and proceeds associated with the operation of the machines and/or filing criminal charges when deemed appropriate,” police officials said in a statement.
Police are telling businesses that may host skills games that are not inspected and approved for operation by the Pa. Gaming Control Board to contact their distributors or vendors to have the machines immediately removed.
Officials said simply powering off or unplugging the machines following the deadline will not be sufficient to avoid potential enforcement actions.
“To be clear, a slot machine does not cease being a slot machine if it has simply been turned off, unplugged, or temporarily disabled (including the removal of any hardware or software that may simply be replaced), allowing it to be readily operated,” police said in a statement.
If a distributor or vendor is unwilling to remove a machine at any establishment, officials said, business owners should contact the Pennsylvania State Police or the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement through resources available here.
