The Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA Tap) has released results from a recent poll involving Pennsylvania voters.
According to the findings, more than half of voters oppose a ban on skill games. The poll went on to note that “a majority of voters,” nearly 60%, voiced support for a 16% tax on legal skill games.
“Voters polled don’t believe skill games harm other gaming revenues, including slots, iGaming, or lottery,” the PA Tap poll said.
Voters also said that “they are less likely to vote for an elected official who favors a higher, crushing tax rate on the games.”
PA Tap President Doug Sprankle commented, “Polling results show that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support a compromise solution that would fairly tax and regulate skill games. They understand the important role supplemental revenue generated from these games plays in supporting small businesses and fraternal clubs.
“They also understand the difference between regulation and overregulation. We are hopeful the Legislature will heed the advice of Pennsylvanians and fairly regulate and tax skill games and the small businesses and fraternal clubs they support.”
The commonwealth has previously considered these games “unlicensed gambling machines that are operating illegally and subject to seizure by police.”
The American Gaming Association estimates that there are nearly 67,000 skill game terminals in the state of Pennsylvania, the highest of any state.
The state Supreme Court recently announced that it will “consider an appeal by the attorney general’s office of a lower-court decision.”
The lower court ruled that skill games are not considered games of chance because they are based on play ability.