As Slots Are Removed, The Question Of Skill Games Competition Arises
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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved a reduction of 130 slot machines at Mount Airy Casino Resort. The board also raised concerns about the proliferation of unregulated "skill games" in casinos. The general manager of Mount airy said the spread of these games has hurt slot machine revenue in the state. He also said it was having a material impact on land-based slot revenue. Harrah’s Philadelphia got board approval to remove 563 slot Machines. Penn National Gaming has its own request pending to get rid of more than 500 combined at its two biggest Pennsylvania venues: the Hollywood Casino in Dauphin County and Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
The gaming board is discussing the issue of skill games competition at its meeting. The board also discussed the fact that Mount Airy's gaming floor has been doing well recently. In July 2020, after the casino reopened from a COVID shutdown with just 1,024 machines due to capacity and social distancing restrictions, it made $15.1 million. Last July, the gaming revenue from 1.875 machines reached just $13. 1 million, whereas in July 2019 it reached $222.9 million from 25,710 machines.
The board revoked the VGT gaming employee occupation permit of Snow Show Travel Plaza manager Kiran Grewal. She removed the state-licensed machines from her Centre County truck stop and replaced them with seven unlicensed ones. The board has petitioned Commonwealth Court to become party to a case before it that is expected to provide guidance on whether the skill games are legal or illegal in the Pennsylvania.
