Pennsylvania Skill Games Ban Triggers 81 Layoffs at Amusement Company
A Pennsylvania company is laying off 81 employees after the state legislature failed to pass legislation that would allow skill games to continue operating across the Commonwealth. In June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are illegal gambling machines. The decision became effe…
A Pennsylvania company is laying off 81 employees after the state legislature failed to pass legislation that would allow skill games to continue operating across the Commonwealth. A man plays a Pennsylvania Skill game in a convenience store. Pennsylvania skill games are illegal gambling machines. (Image: Pennsylvania Skill) In June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are illegal gambling machines. The decision became effective this week, forcing businesses and skill game vendors to remove an estimated 70,000 machines. For Republic Amusements, headquartered in Camp Hill, just across the Susquehanna River from the state capital, the loss of skill games means the loss of jobs. Republic Amusements is the parent company of Capital Vending, Apple Vending, and Entertainment Experts. In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice, the company says 81 will lose their positions. Legislature Blamed for Job Cuts Republic Amusements COO Joe Calla said lawmakers in Harrisburg shoulder the blame for the job losses. My family started this business nearly 64 years ago, and it’s incredibly frustrating to work this hard—to build something that supports great employees and real opportunities for small businesses—only to have our elected officials refuse to take action,” said Calla. Although bipartisan lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) support legalizing and regulating skill games, proposed legislation has stalled over disagreement on tax rates. “All this talk of ‘tax parity’ from some legislators, and specifically from Governor Shapiro, makes clear they have no real intention of doing right by small business,” Calla said. “Regardless of how much the casinos have spent lobbying against Pennsylvania small businesses, American Legions, VFWs, and volunteer fire companies, it’s time for the Pennsylvania legislature to stand up and do the right thing—to put reasonable regulation around skill games and set reasonable taxes and fees,” Calla continued. Speaking off the record with Casino.org, one such small business—a grocery store with three locations in Pennsylvania—said skill games generated over $50,000 for the company in 2026 through September. The business housed three skill games in each grocery store. According to the business owner, stores keep roughly 30% of each machine’s gross revenue, with the remaining 70% going to manufacturers and distributors such as Republic Amusements. Vendors Comply With Ban The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) say businesses that continue to house skill games risk raids and prosecution. The law enforcement agency says it’s entered into agreements with six skill games operators/distributors who are committed to complying with state law. The PSP said the agreements provide the companies with additional time to continue removing the gaming machines on a rolling basis. In Pennsylvania, state law makes it a criminal offense to maintain, assemble, set up, make, sell, or lease slot machines unless the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The post Pennsylvania Skill Games Ban Triggers 81 Layoffs at Amusement Company appeared first on Casino.org.