Senator Gene Yaw (R-23) has highlighted the potential benefits of Senate Bill 1079, a measure he sponsored to regulate skill games in Pennsylvania. The legislation is designed to support businesses and workers who rely on this industry.
Yaw emphasized that skill games have faced scrutiny for over ten years in Pennsylvania courts. “In every case, courts have ruled that games powered by Pace-O-Matic are primarily games of skill, not chance. Yes, there are imitators in the market, but Senate Bill 1079 aims to regulate legitimate skill games and eliminate the bad actors,” Yaw stated.
He explained that these machines are typically found in local establishments such as VFWs, American Legions, and neighborhood bars rather than unregulated gambling venues. The bill includes measures to ban unauthorized operations and allocates resources for enforcement.
Yaw criticized opponents of skill games: “Opposition skill games reflects willful ignorance or a deliberate refusal to acknowledge what the courts have already made clear. And that kind of neglect threatens real jobs.”
According to Yaw, the industry supports a wide range of roles including manufacturers, distributors, operators, technicians, bartenders, clerks, custodians, and managers across small businesses and community organizations throughout Pennsylvania. He noted that thousands of Pennsylvanians depend on income from this sector.
He also pointed out that revenue generated from skill games is taxed at both business and employee levels. Yaw argued against characterizing the industry as informal or untaxed: “This is not a shadow economy. It is a functioning, tax-contributing sector that has been part of Pennsylvania’s landscape for over 20 years.”
Estimates indicate that regulating the industry could bring up to $300 million per year into state coffers. Yaw suggested earlier action might have resulted in nearly $1 billion in additional revenue over three years.
“Skill games are not a threat. They are an opportunity for jobs, for revenue and for communities across Pennsylvania,” said Yaw. He called on lawmakers to prioritize protecting those who rely on this industry.
Yaw represents Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties in the state senate.
