Skill games have become more than a side source of income for some Pennsylvania businesses, with owners saying the machines now play a key role in keeping their doors open as lawmakers consider how to regulate them.
Skill machines can be found in locations across the state, including grocery stores and bars. Some business owners who host the machines say they no longer view them as extra revenue because the money has become part of their regular budgets.
Douglas Sprankle, a grocery store operator in the Pittsburgh area and a member of the PA Taverns and Players Association, said skill games have been part of his family business for years and have recently helped cover bills, particularly when a location has a bad quarter.
“With all the cost rises with gas and everything else, it’s one of those things where it’s a budget item,” Sprankle said. “It helps us keep the lights on and people employed.”
In Cambria County, BigDogz Grill owner and president Michael Ziants said skill machines make it easier to pay for repairs and upkeep without taking out loans. He also said the additional income helps the business keep prices steady rather than raising them as costs increase for many items.
“Hopefully they can just get this finalized. Get the rules set, make it beneficial for everybody and let’s move forward,” Ziants said.
The business owners said they are hopeful lawmakers will come up with a solution in the next few months that does not kill the industry and does not hurt small businesses.
The Pennsylvania House and Senate have been given 120 days to decide how best to regulate skill games across the state.