If law enforcement or a regulatory agency takes action against you, or tells you that a Pennsylvania Skill device is illegal, contact the Pennsylvania Skill Compliance Team immediately. We stand ready to help operators, locations, and to protect our legal devices and your businesses. For the truth about Pennsylvania Skill Games, call us at 570-244-3123.

Legal updates in 2019 were provided by Matt Haverstick of Kleinbard LLC.

OCTOBER 2019

It is critical to remember that Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill amusement device is one of only two games to be adjudicated as games of Dominant Skill by courts in the Commonwealth. The other game is manufactured by Red, White and Blue.

Recently, a competitor went to a Court of Common Pleas in which it was declared their machines games of skill and their case was dismissed. Want to feel comfortable that you are not putting yourself, your company or your customers in jeopardy with law enforcement? It’s easy, operate Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill amusement devices.

As we reported last month, we have taken action against an Operator, PA Coin, for distributing equipment from Banilla which we argue infringes on Pace-O-Matic's patented technology.

We also are taking additional measures to end harassment by the Pennsylvania State Police, Lottery and Liquor Control Board of Pennsylvania Skill Operators.

Civil Court Complaint

SEPTEMBER AND AUGUST 2019

We are awaiting a decision in the Commonwealth Court lawsuit we argued in May 2019. Last year, we sued the Pennsylvania State Police and the City of Philadelphia in Commonwealth Court. The decisions in this court are valid across Pennsylvania. We are taking additional measures to end Pennsylvania State Police harassment of Pennsylvania Skill operators. A favorable decision in Commonwealth Court will further cement our legal status.

We have taken action against an operator, PA Coin, for distributing equipment from Banilla which we believe infringes on Pace-O-Matic's patented technology.

Working with Tom Marino and our compliance team, we have been filing nuisance suits against locations across the state. These locations are operating equipment that has been ruled illegal gambling equipment, particularly from Gracie Technologies. We are cracking down on businesses that are operating as casinos. We are also filing lawsuits against locations that breach their contracts and commingle our skill game with illegal games of chance.

JULY 2019

We are working to address the issues that have resulted from the false email and letter sent by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). We also are aware that the Pennsylvania Lottery and LCE have been intimidating and harassing operators and location owners. We are exploring all legal options to ensure this type of behavior stops.

The Court of Common Pleas in Dauphin County ruled that Pong machines are illegal gambling devices. The Court rejected the argument that our devices are covered by the Gaming Act and ruled games of predominant skill are not slot machines

Over the last few weeks, Courts around the Commonwealth have cracked down on illegal gambling devices, issuing rulings against machines manufactured by Gracie Technologies and Pong. The courts have also ruled that machines manufactured by Banilla are not games of predominant skill.

Pace-O-Matic and Miele Manufacturing launched a Patent Lawsuit against those trying to steal our technology. This lawsuit is critical to protecting our market and ensuring that our devices and our marketplace is protected.

We are awaiting a decision in the Commonwealth Court lawsuit we argued in May. Last year, we sued the Pennsylvania State Police and the City of Philadelphia in Commonwealth Court. The decisions in this court are valid across Pennsylvania. We are taking additional measures to end PSP harassment of Pennsylvania Skill Operators. A favorable decision in Commonwealth Court will further cement our legal status.

JUNE 2019

A recent Cambria County Court opinion denied Gracie Technologies motion for return of property. The judge cited testimony from PA Skill's Beaver County, Pa., Court decision in his opinion, stating that Gracie’s machines are not a predominate game of skill under Section 5513. This decision is further validation that Pennsylvania Skill amusement devices are unique and a game of predominant skill in the eyes of the law.

MAY 2019

We are gearing up for our first major oral argument on May 8. When we are in that argument, we will have knocked out PSP’s latest legal argument against us. Our lawyers are taking other steps to end PSP harassment of Pennsylvania Skill operators.

APRIL 2019

Building on our win in the Court of Common Pleas, we’ve taken the litigation fight to a court that can decide the issue statewide. Last year, we sued the Pennsylvania State Police and the City of Philadelphia in Commonwealth Court. The decisions in this court are valid across Pennsylvania. We are gearing up for our first major oral argument on May 8. When we are successful in that argument, we will have knocked out PSP’s latest legal argument against us. Our lawyers are taking other steps to end PSP harassment of Pennsylvania Skill operators. A favorable decision in Commonwealth Court will further cement our legal status.

MARCH 2019

We continue to be actively engaged in litigation to continue to protect the rights of operators to utilize the Pennsylvania Skill game. Those rights were confirmed in a ruling in the court case which can be viewed by clicking here. This court ruling only applies to the Pennsylvania Skill game designed by POM of PA and solely distributed by Miele Manufacturing. Pennsylvania Skill game has been ruled a game of skill, not a game of chance and operators are legally allowed to make these games available to their customers.

We still anticipate that we will have some important oral arguments in Commonwealth Court in the coming months and we will provide updates accordingly in this monthly newsletter.

Legal Updates: 2019