Pace-O-Matic, creator of Pennsylvania skill games, has commended the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and state casinos which saw a record $5.89bn in revenue for the fiscal year 2023-24.
The numbers surpassed the previous high of $5.5bn from the 2022-23 fiscal year. The revenue increases come from slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals (VGTs).
Pace-O-Matic Chief Public Affairs Officer Mike Barley spoke on the record revenue as well as the continued apprehension towards skill games in the state.
“The record revenue for casinos and other gambling enterprises under the jurisdiction of the PGCB is important to the commonwealth,” said Barley.
“Just as skill games are important to many family businesses and organizations in the state. The annual gaming numbers prove that ample room exists for casinos as well as small businesses and fraternal organizations operating skill games to succeed in Pennsylvania. There is no competition between the two.”
Barley also questioned why casinos, especially Parx Casino whose Parx Shippensburg location saw the highest growth in the state, are fighting skill games and legislation to tax the games.
“Sadly, no amount of revenue is enough to satisfy the greedy casino industry,” Barley said.
“Instead, they want to kill businesses, American Legions, volunteer fire companies, Moose Lodges and other places that count on skill games. These locations could never afford the same tax rate that wealthy casinos pay. Casinos know that and don’t care.”
Several courts have ruled Pennsylvania skill games are legal, including a unanimous Commonwealth Court in November.
There is bipartisan backing for the legislation that would put guardrails around skill game operations and provide $250m in new tax revenue for the state in the first year.