Mark Pinsley, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Senate District 16, would regulate and tax skill games instead of banning them, help people hurt by gambling problems, and give licenses to small, local businesses first. In his words, skill games should be “regulated, taxed and handled honestly.”
Why this is urgent
On June 15, 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are illegal, unlicensed slot machines. The court gave the legislature 120 days to act.
That time runs out on October 13, 2026. State Police say that starting October 14, machines outside licensed casinos and truck stops can be seized, and businesses can face criminal charges. (Pennsylvania State Police)
There are an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 of these machines in convenience stores, bars, VFW halls, clubs and gas stations. Lawmakers left skill games out of the 2026–27 budget because they couldn’t agree on a tax rate. Several bills are pending, but none has passed.
The fight is over the tax rate
| Who | Proposed tax rate |
|---|---|
| Gov. Shapiro | 52% (about what casinos pay) |
| Some Senate Republicans | 35% |
| Pace-O-Matic, the biggest manufacturer | 16% |
| Another proposal | flat $500 per machine |
| Sen. Jarrett Coleman | no tax and no regulation |
Casino slot machines in Pennsylvania are taxed at about 54%. Skill games have paid nothing.
Pinsley’s plan
Regulate, don’t ban. Thousands of small businesses depend on these machines. A legal market needs clear rules, product testing, age checks and consumer protections.
Tax them fairly — and protect the host. The bar, VFW post or fire company keeps a share of what each machine takes in, but the manufacturer keeps the biggest share. A tax aimed at the manufacturer, not the host, is possible — and it’s what most states with legal machines do.
Licenses go to small, local businesses first — the places that have been hosting these machines — not to whoever has the most money.
Help people hurt by gambling problems. These machines take money, can be played over and over, and are in everyday places like convenience stores and bars. Research on electronic gambling shows faster games can encourage more betting and longer sessions, and make it harder for people with gambling problems to stop. Any framework should include real help for the people it hurts.
In his video on skill games, he puts it simply: “The games are here. The money is real. So regulate them, tax them, help people hurt by gambling problems, and make sure we don’t pull the rug out from under the small businesses that have come to rely on that income.”
Why it matters
Skill games have gone untaxed for about a decade. The casino industry estimates that cost the state more than $250 million in gaming taxes — money that could have gone to schools, transit and services.
Pinsley calls the principle “Public Money, Public Benefit”: no company should get special treatment or a tax break without real benefits flowing back to the public.
Who’s funding the other side: Why does Jarrett Coleman oppose taxing skill games, and who is funding his campaign?
The general election is November 3, 2026 — three weeks after the enforcement deadline.
