In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that has garnered broad support from union and trades professionals, industry partners, social clubs, and small businesses across Pennsylvania. This initiative, centered on gaming reform and skill‑game regulation, is designed to invest in the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure, first responders, veterans organizations, and small businesses through a modernized and responsible statewide framework.
Pennsylvania continues to face significant transportation and infrastructure challenges statewide. Ongoing investments are needed to maintain and repair roads, sustain bridge infrastructure, strengthen public transit systems, and ensure first responders have the resources necessary to protect and serve communities.
At the same time, many community-based organizations, including VFWs, American Legion posts, volunteer fire companies, and small businesses, depend on skill games as an important source of supplemental revenue. These funds help cover operational costs, support employees, maintain facilities, and contribute to local programs and services. This industry employs thousands of people across the Commonwealth.
This proposed Pennsylvania skill‑game legislation offers an opportunity to support these organizations by protecting this supplemental revenue while creating a clear, statewide regulatory structure for the skill‑game industry and expanding access to Video Gaming Terminals in truck stops.
Under this proposed model, gaming revenue would be allocated as follows:
- 84% - Roads, Bridges & Public Transit
- 15% - Fire & EMS
- 1% - Administrative Costs
This allocation ensures that revenue generated through regulated skill games is reinvested directly into Pennsylvania communities, supporting transportation upgrades, reinforcing infrastructure, and helping fund vital first‑responder services.
The proposal establishes a consistent statewide system with uniform licensing, testing, monitoring, and enforcement requirements. Manufacturers, terminal operators, participating establishments, and key personnel would be subject to licensing, background checks, and ongoing oversight.
The framework also incorporates strong consumer protection standards, including:
- Minimum player age of 21
- Central monitoring with auditable gameplay and payout records
- Required employee visibility and video surveillance
- Age verification processes and a self‑exclusion program for skill‑game players
- Independent audits and state regulatory oversight
- Enforcement authority to remove illegal machines from operation
The proposal includes a
$500 monthly fee per terminal and projects approximately
$700 million in additional annual statewide revenue. This funding approach allows the Commonwealth to leverage a new, sustainable revenue source for critical statewide needs, without reducing the supplemental revenue that community organizations and small businesses rely on.
The proposed legislation presents an opportunity to invest in Pennsylvania on two levels: advancing statewide priorities in transportation, infrastructure, and first‑responder support, while simultaneously protecting the supplemental revenue streams that sustain local organizations and small businesses across the Commonwealth.
We hope you will join us in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.