Slots are a huge part of Pennsylvania gambling.
There are more of them and they generate more revenue than any other casino game in the state.
That holds true for both Pennsylvania’s land-based and online casinos, which offer hundreds of slot titles.
From classic reel slot machines to progressive jackpot slots, modern video slots with a range of Best way to pick a winning slot machine and lucrative bonus games to your favorite pop-culture-themed slots, the state’s casinos have them all.
Read on and you’ll find everything you ever wanted to know about PA slots, including how you can play slots for free, all the types of slot machines in the state, where you can find them and more.
Best online casinos with slots in PA
The stakes will include everything from penny slots to high-limit slots.
Plus, you can expect to find online slots with fixed jackpots and others that offer the chance at some pretty big progressive jackpots that grow with every spin.
There will even be themed PA online slots based on hit music by legendary rockers, blockbuster movies, and some of your favorite TV shows.
The public cant get enough of slots because theyre fun and often offer the opportunity to win big.
The RTP (return to player) isnt as favorable as blackjack or video poker on most online slots, but the chance to strike it rich by winning a big jackpot is a real draw.
Free slots in Pennsylvania
Perhaps the best thing about the launch of online casinos in the state is that they let you play online slots for free.
That’s right, you can play your favorite online slots without risking any of your money.
When it comes to playing slots for free, most PA online casinos offer you two options.
The first is demo mode. Most of the slots you find will offer a demo mode that lets you play for free, allowing you to check out a slot and play through all the normal features including any free spin bonuses and fun bonus games with play money.
At the end of the day, you won’t win any real cash playing slots in demo mode.
However, you’ll see all the game has to offer and see if it’s for you.
How to win real money playing slots for free
Your second option for playing online slots for free is to take advantage of the many free bonuses PA online casinos offer and using that bonus money to play slots. This option gives you the opportunity to win real cash playing slots for free.
The no deposit bonuses that online casinos offer are just that.
They give you real money to play slots just for signing up for an account. These bonuses are generally $25 or less, and you’ll have to gamble with the cash to meet any wagering requirements before you can withdraw it. However, a no deposit bonus could help you build a bankroll out of thin air.
Though not quite the same as playing for free, many online casinos also offer matched deposit bonuses.
These are generally % matches on your first deposit and are much larger than the no deposit bonuses.
Once again, you’ll have to gamble to meet any wagering requirements before you can get your hands on the bonus.
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However, playing slots remains the best way to do that.
Playing slots for real money
You’ve played the demos to figure out which slots are for you. You’ve run through your no deposit bonus, turning a tidy, but small, profit. Now you’re ready to get serious about online slots and take advantage of a matched deposit bonus.
That means making a deposit, and it starts with deciding on the best banking option for you.
Online casinos in Pennsylvania make the entire process easy by offering a range of deposit methods. These include:
- Debit or credit cards
- ACH or bill pay bank transfers
- Third-party payment processors like PayPal
- Cash via PayNearMe or an affiliated licensed casino
The first step is to log in to your account using the name and password you Pennsylvania skill slot machine locations when you registered.
If you signed up through a link on this website and entered a bonus code or promo code, your first deposit will be eligible for the casino’s matched deposit bonus if it offers one.
The next step is finding the tab labeled “deposit” or “cashier” on the homepage or app. This might be in the “My Account” menu. Then, click on your deposit method of choice and follow the prompts.
Confirm the transaction, and the funds should be available almost immediately.
Finally, play your favorite slots to meet the wagering requirements for your matched deposit bonus. After that, the online casino will release the bonus funds and you can use that bonus cash. If you’re lucky enough to win, you can also withdraw Winstar winners 2021 winnings using the same method you used to deposit funds into your account.
If that’s not available, you can choose another way or get a check in the mail in about a week.
Mobile slots in PA
If you play on an app, you’ll find that most of your favorite online slots work just fine. There may be a more limited selection of slots than you’ll find using an online casino’s website, but a number of your favorite titles are bound to be there.
Some may have even been adapted specifically for mobile use.
To make sure the slots you want to play work well via the app, you can always try them out in demo mode first. Get the app for Android or iPhone and iPad by following our link to the casino site on your mobile device and downloading from there.
Then, play as many slots as you like using the app. You can clear any wagering requirements for both no deposit and matched deposit bonuses at PA online casinos through mobile play.
Progressive slots
Progressive jackpot slots are a big part of playing slots.
pennsylvania skill game piratesThese games promise you the chance to win large amounts of money, and the jackpots grow with every spin. That’s right, a piece of every dollar you and others put into a progressive slot goes into the jackpot, and it keeps on growing until somebody wins.
Land-based casinos in PA host stand-alone and linked progressives.
Stand-alone progressive Pennsylvania skill slot machine locations are single slot machines that offer a progressive jackpot exclusive to that machine.
Only money put in that machine goes into the jackpot, which will be won on that machine.
Linked progressives are groups of slot machines that offer a progressive jackpot exclusive to that group of machines. They might be the same game or a group of games, but all the money put into those machines goes into the jackpot, which will be won on one of the machines.
Linked progressives link together slot machines over a defined area or a wider network.
The bigger the area or network, the more players there usually are, leading to bigger progressive jackpots.
Online casinos in Pennsylvania host similar stand-alone and linked progressive slots.
Stand-alone progressives are single online slots with a progressive jackpot exclusive to that game. Linked online progressives may include multiple slots at one PA online casino or a connected group of online casinos in the state with a progressive jackpot exclusive to those games.
PA loyalty programs and slots
Many online casinos offer bonuses to draw you in, but they also want to keep you around.
That’s why most have loyalty programs designed to reward you for playing regularly. These are always great for slot players because of the high volume most put in.
At land-based casinos you might get a card you can insert into a slot machine to track your play. You’ll collect points and can redeem them for various rewards and comps at the casino. You can get your hands on everything from free food and beverages to free play on your favorite games.
Online casinos make the earning process even easier.
Your play is tracked and you earn points automatically.
Most of the time, you can redeem these points for free play on your favorite online games or merchandise in an online store. However, many online casinos will also let you redeem the points at their partner land-based casinos.
Many 10 times slot machine also run special promotions that can help you earn points faster on certain games or at specific times.
Like most land-based casino loyalty programs, online casino loyalty programs are practically built for slot players.
That’s because slot play is one of the best and fastest ways to clear bonuses and earn loyalty points.
Playing Online Slots vs.pa skill games online
Brick and Mortar
There really isnt that much of a difference between the slots youll find at PA casinos and those at PA online casinos. In fact, most of your favorite slots at PA land-based casinos will make the transition to the online casinos.
The games are pretty much the same, but there are many advantages to playing online slots at PA online casinos:
Software & Developers
Heres a look at the top 5 software houses in the business:
Bally Slots
The story of Bally Technologies started over 85 years ago with a wooden pinball game called Ballyhoo.
Now it is a division of Scientific Games enterprise based in Las Vegas, Nevada that designs and manufacturers slot machines and other gaming technology.
Bally’s library includes popular slot titles like Quick Hit, Blazing 7s, Wonder Woman, and Michael Jackson.
Konami
Konami is a Japanese entertainment and gaming conglomerate that started out designing classic video games like Frogger.
It has since expanded to include a casino gaming business in Paradise, Nevada that designs and manufactures slots.
Popular titles include China Shores, Diamond Point, and Dungeons & Dragons.
IGT Slots
IGT is one of the largest designers and manufacturers of slots in the world.
The company claims to be #1 in games and #1 in jackpots with over $6 billion in payouts to date.
Popular IGT network wide-area progressive slots include Megabucks, Wheel of Fortune, and the Blake Shelton video slot. IGT is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NetEnt Slots
NetEnt is a digitally distributed gaming systems supplier that works with some of the worlds most successful online gaming operators.
Its list of award-winning games includes the Guns N Roses video slot, Planet of the Apes, and Jumanji.
High 5 Gaming Slots
High 5 Games is one of the worlds leading content creators for the land-based, online, and social gaming markets.
Some of its most popular slot titles include DaVinci Diamonds, Mega Hits Golden Goddess, and Noahs Ark.
The company has corporate offices in New York and New Jersey.
High 5 Games is one of the leading software suppliers to several of the New Jersey markets top online casino sites.
Types of Slot Machines in PA
- Classic 3-Reel Slots: Looking for a feeling of nostalgia? Classic 3-Reel Slots offer the real old-school gaming experience youre after. Line up the cherries or the sevens for the classic payday.
- Bonus Video Slots: Bonus Video Slots turn the Classic 3-Reel Slots experience on No deposit bonus for slots empire head.
New technology allows these Bonus Video Slots to combine classic slots with popular themes and additional bonus games that take slot play to the next level
- Free Spins: Many Bonus Video Slots offer a Free Spins feature allowing you to play for free and increase your winnings exponentially.
Some even allow you to win more free spins from a free spin.
- Pick ‘Em Bonus: Bonus Video Slots often feature bonus games with big prizes. The Pick ‘Em Bonus is Pennsylvania skill slot machine locations such game, allowing you to pick from a series of symbols revealing a prize underneath.

Some of these prizes even include jackpots.
- Buy a Bonus: Several Bonus Video Slots feature bonus games where the big prizes await. Some even include a Buy a Bonus feature allowing you to buy your way directly into the bonus game.
- Stacked / Cascading Wilds: There are a number of Bonus Video Slots that feature Stacked or Cascading Wilds. This feature essentially spreads wild symbols across the reels increasing your chances of winning exponentially.
This often leads to big wins and access to other bonus features as well.
- Bonus Wheels: Bonus Video Slots often feature bonus games with Bonus Wheels. This gives you the chance to spin a wheel for big prizes, which is quite often the path to triggering a progressive jackpot win.
- Themed Slots: Several Bonus Video Slots feature themes based on popular TV shows, films and musicians. These Themed Slots often offer various video content, top quality soundtracks, and some of the bigger progressive jackpots.
Understanding the Paylines
The object Pennsylvania skill slot machine locations a slot is almost always to line up the same symbols on the reels.
The different ways you can do that depends on the number of paylines the slot includes. Plus, several slots allow you access to an increased number of paylines as you increase your bet.
Winning on a slot machine is always about luck, but the more paylines on offer, the more chances you have to win.
While the Classic 3-Reel Slots have pretty straightforward paylines you can see for yourself, Bonus Video Slots often feature hundreds that can be tough to find.
However, most offer a chance Don t come bar see how the paylines line up with the click of a button.
Understanding the RTP
RTP or a games Return To Player rate is the percentage of how much money a game takes in that it will ultimately pay back to players.
It doesnt mean that RTP is guaranteed for each session.
Or, that youll ever win playing that slot. It simply means that over time, for every $1 put into it, a slot will pay back that certain percentage to someone.
The opposite of RTP is the house edge the casino enjoys on a game.
For example, a slot may have an RTP of 95 percent. That means the house enjoys a five percent edge on that game and the casino will keep five percent of every bet over time.
It also means that 95 cents of every dollar put into a game will be paid back to players.
If you lose $ playing that slot, itll eventually pay back $ dollars of it to players, but that doesnt necessarily include you.
Lets say someone wins a $10, jackpot playing that slot. That means someone, or a group of someones, is going to lose over $10, playing the game to make up for it.
Casinos have the ability to set the RTP on a slot.
Players simply need to be on the right side of a games RTP at the right time to win. Other than that, the real RTP and house edge will be realized over time with the house enjoying the set edge over the long haul.
Pennsylvania Slot Machine Laws
Slot machines are legal at Pennsylvania’s licensed casinos and have been a part of the legal casino gambling scene here since the start.
In fact, the state’s initial casino legislation, passed in , allowed racetracks and new stand-alone casinos and resort casinos to run slots only, making them the only legal casino games in town.
Pennsylvania’s first casino slots launched in and helped generate over $1 billion in Money grab slot machine revenue in year one.
Of course, these operators were allowed to launch table games in , but to this day, slot machines still dominate gambling floors and gambling revenue reports across the state.
There were close to 25, slot machines in operation at the state’s casinos in
More PA slot machine laws
Gambling laws in the state allow Book of dead slot uk and casinos to apply for one of four categories of slots license, dictating how many slot machines they can have:
- Category 1 licenses are for racetracks and permit each to host up to 5, slots.
- Category 2 licenses are for stand-alone casinos and permit each to host up to 5, slots.
- Category 3 licenses are for resort casinos and permit each to host up to slots or pay another $ million to add more.
- Category 4 licenses are for mini-casinos and permit each to host up to slots.
Pennsylvania law also tells license holders how loose the slots have to be.
All slots in PA must have a return-to-player rate of 85% or more. That means at least 85 cents of every dollar put into a slot must be returned to players as prizes. Online casinos are subject to the same law.
Is it legal to own a slot machine in Pennsylvania?
The law also allows you to buy a classic slot and put it in your home, as long as you are 25 or older, the slot is from or earlier, and it is used for fun only.
That means no home slot gambling in PA.
Buying a slot and then letting people gamble on it is against the law, even if its just your friends playing.
Pennsylvania slot revenue
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported $ billion in gross revenue from these slot machines inless than one-half of one percent off the $ billion they generated in Thanks to a hefty 54% tax rate on slots, that meant more than $ billion in tax revenue for the state.
Inthe state Legislature voted to legalized online gambling, before passing a new gambling expansion package in that was signed into law that year.
The state’s casinos started offering online slots in the summer of , and in just the first six months, online slots generated more than $20 million in revenue.
All told, PA’s first online casinos generated $ million in gross revenue inputting another $ million into state coffers. And the online casino and online slots scene has only grown since then.
In fact, PA online casinos are now regularly posting online slot revenue of more than $50 million monthly.
PA Skill Games vs. Slot Machines
Skill Games in PA look a lot like slots. However, the games are variations of Tic-Tac-Toe and other games that require some type of skill to beat them.
You might find them in a gas station, convenience store, or some sort of skill game parlor as opposed to a casino.
The games reportedly involve some kind of actual skill whereas slot machines are based on luck alone.
This is why some businesses in PA have been allowed to operate the games without a casino license.
Pennsylvanias casino expansion laws tried to clarify the issue, but it remains unsolved.
Some Pennsylvania courts have ruled in favor of allowing the games and other cases against operators are still pending. For now, it remains a gray area.
Where to play slots in Pennsylvania
Here’s a quick rundown of licensed casinos in Pennsylvania and some of the slot machines you’ll find there:
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Harrah’s Blvd., Chester, PA
Slots: ,square-foot casino featuring 2, slot machines.
There’s a high limit slots area and nonsmoking slots area with penny, nickel and quarter games. Titles include Wheel of Fortune and Jackpot Party. Hot new slot titles include AGS Orion, Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel and Wheel of Fortune Cash Link.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National
Hollywood Blvd., Grantville, PA
Slots: Over 2, reel, progressive and video slot machines, plus over new slots.
Titles include Double Jackpot — Triple Blazing 7s and Monopoly Wheel — Luxury Diamonds. Hot new slot titles include Dancing Foo, Lightning Cash and Money Rain.
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Racetrack Road, Washington, PA
Slots: One of the largest casino floors on the East Coast with over 2, slot machines.
There’s a high limit room offering slots and video poker machines from $1-$ Titles include Lightning Link, 88 Fortunes and Buffalo Gold.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
PennsylvaniaWilkes-Barre, PA
Slots: Over 1, slots, from 1 cent to $ machines. Titles include Wheel of Fortune, Triple Red Hot 7s, Monopoly and Hot Shot Progressive.
Hot new slot titles include Ultra Rush: Sky Fire, Jin Ji Bao Xi — Rising Fortunes and Star Spangled Riches.
Parx Casino
Street Road, Bensalem, PA
Slots:square feet of gambling with over 3, slots. There’s a high limit slots area dubbed Xclusive with $1 to $ denomination slot machines, premium beverage service and a private cashier.
New Legislation To Tax and Regulate Pennsylvania Skill Games
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Unlicensed “skill games” continue to spread across Pennsylvania. Since they exist in gray legal areas, the games have caused numerous issues with a number of stakeholders, including: law enforcement, PA casinos who say are siphoning business without paying the proper taxes, and local businesses that depend on them for revenue.
In May, there were two separate instances where PA county courts ruled that the “skill games” were wrongfully seized during raids and must be returned.
What are skill games?
They look and play a lot like slot machines. Skill games can usually be found at convenience stores, VFWs and bars. The main point of contention is that winning at a slot machine is based on luck and skill games say that for players to win, some skill or ability is required. (It’s usually a memory game or ability to follow prompts).
Slot machines in PA casinos are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Slots are subject to a tax rate of 54%, one of the highest in the country. Skill machines are governed by the Crimes Code. They are not subject to the same taxes as slot machines found at casinos.
Skill games seized
During two dates in Dec. and Jan , undercover Pennsylvania Liquor Enforcement officers went to the Swizzle Stick in Luzerne County, PA. While there, they played multiple electronic video games owned by Pinnacle. On Jan 27, , during a routine inspection, they seized three machines (Ultra and Ultramax) from the Swizzle Stick. The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE) officers seized the following machines in Luzerne County.
- Jan 27, Park Market Six Packs to Go, 2 machines during a routine inspection.
- Sept 30, , Anthracite News Stand, 4 machines
- July 20, BW Saloon, 2 machines
In total, the BLCE seized 11 machines manufactured by Pinnacle.
Court orders skill games and cash returned to Pinnacle
In June , Pinnacle began filing motions with Luzerne County to have the machines and cash seized returned claiming that they are not gambling devices. During the hearing trial, Susan Hensel, Esq., testified on behalf of Pinnacle. Hensel was the first employee of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. She served as Director of Licensing from to and is now founder and partner of Hensel Grad., a law and consultancy firm.
She played the Banilla models and games that had been seized by the BLCE. Hensel testified that various player skills are used in both the reel and patterns of the game such as pattern recognition, understanding and knowledge of the game, dexterity and memory. Since these memory skills can determine the outcome of the game, it was Hensel’s opinion that the Banilla games are “skill games.”
The court defined the three elements of gambling as consideration, a result determined by chance rather than skill, and reward. Luzerne County Court ruled that the player’s skill can cause the result of a successful outcome during each play and therefore the machines are not gambling devices and cannot be seized as contraband.
The ruling reads, in part:
“The outcome of every round of play on the instant machines is not predominated by chance as it, ultimately, is neither a matter purely of fate nor is it even dictated by the source code of the gaming software encoded within the machines. The outcome of every round of play, instead, is predominated by a player’s choice over their election to utilize–and their exercise of–skill, to whatever degree it may have been honed.”
“Pinnacle, therefore, has met their burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that skill predominates over chance in the gameplay on the Ultra, Ultramax, and Dual machines which house the Banilla gaming software.”
The BLCE was ordered to return the following to Pinnacle Amusements:
- 3 Keystone Ultra-model, 5 Keystone Ultramax, 2 Ultramax Dual-mode, 1 Keystone Gold I-model
- $1,
- As a result of the seizures at Park Market Six Pack To Go, the PLCB was ordered to return $
Read the full Pinnacle v BLCE Opinion and Order here.
Seized games in Clearfield County returned to Pace-O-Matic
In late May, a Clearfield County Court order deemed that seized Pennsylvania Skill Amusement Devices be returned to Pace-O-Matic. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania admitted to “no wrongdoing.”
The seized property returned to Pace-O-Matic included:
- 5 Pennsylvania skill amusement devices
- 30 weekly accounting documents
- D-Link Router Box, NetGear Router Box
- $5,
Pace-O-Matic spokesman Mike Barleysaid in a press release:
“This is a tremendous victory and vindication of Pennsylvania Skill games and reaffirms our status as legal games of skill. This is another step in our effort to have legal games of skill further legitimized. In fact, Pace-O-Matic stands out among our competitors as the active and driving force seeking additional regulation and taxation. It is not often that a company or industry that markets a legal product approaches the state General Assembly asking for additional regulation and taxation.”
Pace-O-Matic says state regulators and BLCE harassed and conspired
Pace-O-Matic, a developer of skill games, filed a lawsuit in PA Commonwealth Court in April against the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). It has since been amended to include the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
POM’s suit maintains that the skill games have never been deemed illegal in Pennsylvania and points to a Beaver County Court ruling as the basis. POM’s lawsuit alleges targeted harassment, collusion and conspiracy.
Some of Pace-O-Matic’s complaints against the BLCE allege:
- Targeted harassment toward POM and its business partners starting in
- The officers instructed to deliver messages to the owners that skill games were illegal, would be imminently seized, or legislated out of existence.
- Casino lobbyists and public relations personnel recruited the district attorney of Clearfield County to seize the skill games.
- BLCE has used the same incorrect description of Pennsylvania gambling law, and has ignored the import of the skill game’s preview feature and “Follow Me” game, to deceive judges throughout the Commonwealth and secure judicial sign-off on defective search warrants.
- The Bureau has worked with casino lobbyists and public relations personnel to disparage the skill games, instigate seizure of the machines, and harass POM’s business partners.
- Bureau personnel also directly communicated with casino lawyers in a conspiracy to harass and attack POM. The email below was listed in the lawsuit as an example:

The lawsuit states that up until , PGCB took the position that it did not regulate the skill games. After a PA Commonwealth Court ruling in which held that the Gaming Act did not apply to skill games, POM alleges that the PGCB began to change its stance on skill games.
Some of Pace-O-Matic’s complaints against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board allege:
- Changed its legal position on due to pressure and lobbying from casinos such as Parx, Penn National, Churchill Downs, and Mohegan Sun.
- Casinos and the Bureau have conspired with PGCB for PGCB’s allocation of grant money to district attorneys who agree to single out the skill game for seizure.
- PGCB steers grant money to district attorneys and assists in coordinating the training of county detectives who agree to seize and prosecute the locations lawfully possessing the skill game.
“Skill games are a threat to the legal gaming industry and state lottery”
Peter Shelly, a spokesperson for the casino industry group Pennsylvanians Against Illegal Gambling (PAIG), commented to PlayPennsylvania in Jan
“There is no question that skill games are illegal no matter who manufactures them. To suggest the (Pennsylvania) Lottery isn’t losing millions of dollars defies the state’s data and is ludicrous. Skill games are impacting the Lottery and programs the lottery benefits. There is a reason the Office of Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police keep confiscating these machines; they are illegal.”
Pennsylvanians Against Illegal Gambling sent out an email to Pennsylvania lawmakers on June 9. It read in part:
“Spin does not change the fact that these illegal machines are a direct and growing threat to the legal gaming industry and the state lottery. There is zero capital investment, zero job creation and not a single cent in gaming taxes. Pennsylvania’s licensed and strictly regulated casinos, on the other hand, pay over 57% of gross slot machine revenue to the Commonwealth, support 30,+ jobs, and provide more than $2 billion in annual wages and benefits.”
The ongoing drama about skill games in PA
No need to turn to your favorite streaming service for your next drama. The saga of skill games in Pennsylvania spans years and continues to add chapters of drama, bickering and legal actions.
Some casinos have reduced the number of slot machines. One of the reasons is unregulated games of skill.
Some opinions about Pennsylvania skill games
Cyrus Pitre, Chief Enforcement Counsel at Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board during a PGCB meeting said
“The only difference between a slot machine and a skill game is that a slot machine is regulated by the Board. A skill game is put out there willy nilly by anyone in the public to operate. There’s no protections and nothing to benefit the state from these machines. This board has a duty to protect the public and the industry it helped create to ensure the operation of any gaming activity is regulated and licensed.”
Senator Gene Yawintroduced legislation in Nov. that would tax skill games. He says they help small businesses:
“If you want to know why legal video skill games are important, all you have to do is walk into any market in Western Pennsylvania, family owned restaurant, VFW or bar. “They are allowing these businesses to provide health insurance for their workers, increased salaries, and in some cases, keeping the doors open.”
Adrian King, a lawyer at Ballard Spahr representing Penn National Gaming said:
“Penn National contends that skill machines have undoubtedly contributed to slot count reduction being necessary. Skill games are a type of slot machine. This isn’t just a Penn National problem.”
Skill games AKA the ones that got away in Pennsylvania’s year affair with expanded legal gambling.
Pennsylvania State Police, commercial casino operators and Pennsylvania Lottery officials have all taken turns challenging their legality in recent years, arguing they are gaming devices operating outside of state-licensed casinos, and avoiding both consumer protection regulations and state taxes.
But a web of conflicting and incomplete court cases have kept anyone from really doing anything about the new games as they took root throughout thousands of independent convenience stores, gas stations, pizza parlors and supermarkets.
Now, after nearly a decade of life as a gambling pariah, the key players in the skill games industry are knocking at the front door of the state Capitol, making their most concerted effort yet to enter proper Pennsylvania gaming company.
A new bill that would for the first time regulate and tax the games - but in a new category separate from slot machines or video gaming terminals - was introduced Wednesday by state Sen. Gene Yaw, a Williamsport Republican whose district is host to Miele Manufacturing, one of the leading manufacturers of this category of video games.
Yaw’s bill would do that by setting up a system of distributor, operator and establishment licenses, all under the regulation of the state Department of Revenue instead of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
According to drafts of Yaw’s proposal, the machines could be permitted in bars, private clubs and fraternal organizations, and any business where age-regulated products, like cigarettes, are sold. There could be up to five in a store or a bar, and up to 10 in a club. Play would be limited to people 18 and older.
Maximum bets for a single game play are $5, and the maximum payout for a single game would capped at $5,
Net terminal revenues - the money left in the box after customer payouts - would be taxed at 16 percent, with that money split between the state (56 percent, including a 6 percent split for PSP’s Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement); counties (22 percent); and municipalities (22 percent). The local shares would be apportioned according to game profits from each county and municipality.
Yaw projected additional tax revenues of about $ million annually for the state.
After-tax profits from the machines would have to be split like this: 40 percent to the establishment; 40 percent to the operator, who leases the games; and 20 percent to the distributor, or the game’s maker.
To get in the game, all game makers will have to present lab-certified reports to the state that the skill of the player is “the predominant factor” affecting their games’ outcome, that all players have access to rules and a preview before paying, and that there is no programming that ramps up difficulty when as certain payout thresholds are reached.
“In our legislation, rules have to be posted on the game itself - here’s what you have to do to win. You have to do certain things,” Yaw said. “Unlike a slot machine where you sit there and”
The bill is also written to give broad latitude to existing machine operators to keep going under provisional licenses. But businesses or establishment that cannot or don’t want to live within the new rules would be given a day grace period to surrender their machines at no penalty.
The rules, supporters said, will help the state separate true skill games - namely, those developed by Williamsport-based Miele - from what they call knock-off versions marketed by a series of competitors that really are gambling devices that the player has literally no control over any single play.
Opponents, of course, scoff at that argument, noting that even skill games that meet the letter of the law are currently considered a form of a slot machine under current state gaming law, meaning they shouldn’t have any existence outside the state’s licensed casinos.
There are powerful interests on both sides of this fight.
On one side there are the game manufacturers, operators and the establishments they do business with - membership-based social clubs, bars and taverns that have felt frozen out of Pennsylvania’s growing gambling pie. They say skill games have been a bright spot in a machine-leasing market once built on jukeboxes and video amusement games that’s been decimated in recent years by smart phones and other changes in the entertainment world.
On the other side are the state’s licensed casinos, angry because the skill games operate without the 34 percent gaming tax imposed on their slot machine profits; and the Pennsylvania Lottery, whose director has consistently argued that skill games are a present and future threat to the Lottery’s sales growth and, by extension, its support for seniors programs.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National told the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board earlier Wednesday that the casino wants to reduce its slot machine count from 1, at present to 1, as part of a reconfiguration of its gaming floor that recognizes a lower demand for slots in the current market.
Asked if games of skill are one of the direct causes of that drop, Hollywood Casino general manager Daniel Ihm said they are.
The industry rivalry has been seriously intense, too.
Proponents for skills games hosted a reception for legislators at the Federal Tap House in Harrisburg Tuesday night, but anyone attending was greeted by a parked, digital billboard advertising an “Illegal Gaming Reception.”
“One Night Only” the pink and gold display beamed. “Live Corruption.”
Back at the Capitol Wednesday, however, supporters tried to paint a much better face for this business that’s matured outside of state regulation to the point where there are probably more than 10, machines in play statewide.
One of the most effusive was Ryan Sprankle, the owner / operator of three supermarkets in western Pennsylvania. Sprankle said that his company made a decision when it brought in skills games several years ago, to use their proceeds exclusively for its employees or the community.
“We’ve used it to increase our average wage by three dollars an hour. In our industry that’s huge. We’ve used it to offer health benefits; in one of our stores we have 45 employees and we’ve been able to offer full benefits - a UPMC plan - to 24 of those employees in the last year, and that was never possible before.”
As a result, Sprankle said, his company has not been facing the same labor shortage problems that so many other businesses have.
He also said that there is no obvious drop-off in Lottery sales.
The road ahead for Yaw’s bill looks steep.
Remember, just this June, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County, took the unusual step of returning campaign contributions from skills games manufacturers political action committee and challenging his colleagues to do the same.
In comments to PennLive then, Corman said, “I think we all should be uncomfortable with the amount of at-best unregulated, and at-worst illegal, gaming that’s going on in Pennsylvania. There’s obviously millions of dollars being spent in campaign contributions - which I have received - and lobbying to continue the status quo.
“I feel uncomfortable with that and I have personally returned any contributions that I have received from that industry.”
Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, and Sen. Jay Costa, the Democratic floor leader from Pittsburgh, followed suit.
Yaw said Wednesday he’s ready for the fight, even if it takes a while.
To date, he said, no court has definitively ruled the machines to be illegal, and he noted that one county district attorney - after a recent raid where skill games were seized by police - ordered them to be returned with no prosecution. Lottery sales, he said, have continued to increase even as skill games have exploded.
“We want to do it right. Not just get it done.”
How to Beat Pennsylvania Skill Game
Huge sports fan. Football & MLS fanatic. Lover of all things gambling - Sports betting, Casino, Poker and of course, Las Vegas.
Pennsylvania Skill Game is one of the most popular gaming options for PA players. But, is there a way to beat the game?
Skill-based games are not a new phenomenon. They have been around in the casinos of Atlantic City and Las Vegas for a number of years. As gambling continues to grow in the US, players are warming towards particular games as they aim to strike lucky. Online gambling is now legal in Pennsylvania, and slots have become the most popular skill-based game in the Keystone State.
Since PA real money online casinos became legal, numerous people play online slots at convenience stores, bars, and various other types of businesses. PA skill games work differently from typical slot machines. A Pennsylvania skill game requires more than merely pushing a button. When playing on Pennsylvania skill machines, players must give their full attention and concentrate to beat them.
Other games that fall under the skill category in Pennsylvania include Blackjack, Pai Gow, and Draw Poker. Online gaming provides many opportunities for players to test themselves as they play for real money. However, many players remain unfamiliar with skill games and want to know how to play the Pennsylvania skill game. This article will look at Pennsylvania skill game tips, how PA skills games work, and if you can beat them.
How Do Pennsylvania Skill Slot Machines Work?
As we mentioned above, slots have become the go-to game of choice for Pennsylvania players. Residents in the state regularly search for video slots near me or slot machines near me. Players love to bet on this fun game, and it is the top iGaming choice in PA. In terms of a Pennsylvania skill game, they play very similarly to a regular slot machine. For example, to begin playing these games, you insert money into the terminal and then spin the reels hoping for some matching symbols in paylines.

These games are not dissimilar to standard slots; however, each can vary regarding the skill element. Some examples of how these slots incorporate an element of skill include:
- An early snippet that lets you see if youll win or lose the next spin.
- Players must hit wild and/or scatter symbols to activate them.
- Skill-focused bonus rounds.
The early snippet, which gives you a heads up gained traction in Florida. These pre-reveal slot machines give players the option or make you check if the next round will be a winning or a losing one. Knowing the result of the spin will enable you to decide if its worth playing.
The other feature worth discussing is the skill-based bonus rounds. One of the most prominent games in these rounds is a memory game, where the slots reveal a series of flashing dots. You may think its easy at first as there are not many dots on the screen, but as you progress, more dots appear, and it really tests your memory. These skill game options are fun, and some players have a better gaming experience with them over a random game that relies entirely on luck.
How do the games compare to a live dealer PA casino? Well, a live dealer casino game is a lot more interactive and you can interact and play against live dealers online, not just via a games machine.
You may also want to read about playing US sweepstake casinos online, and about playing Ocean King Online for Real Money.
How to Beat Pennsylvania Skill Game
We all would like some tips and information on how we could beat the house to give us as much chance of winning as possible. The good news is that you can increase your chances of success if you know all of the rules and steps of winning a Pennsylvania skill game. As many players continue visiting casinos in PA, its useful to know which methods to use and follow to generate some winnings. Below you will find some steps on how to beat the Pennsylvania skill game.

Is a Pennsylvania skill machine hack really possible? Lets look in more detail at some steps you can take.
Steps & Tips to beat Pennsylvania Skill Game
- First, visit a Pennsylvania casino that has the Living Large slot machine.
- Check the prize viewer on the $ If there is no winner, the below steps will be applicable.
- Spin 4x with a bet of $ by selecting the middle tile each time. Even if other tiles win, dont let this influence you, and keep choosing the center tile.
- Up the ante and bet $ on your first spin, then select the tile on the top left. On your second spin, choose the top middle tile.
- For the third spin, select the top right tile. Please remember to continue to choose these tiles even if they are not winning from the spin; nothing should change your choice.
- Next, you need to decrease the amount you are wagering to $; this means you are now betting $ per spin. Have a look at the prize view but dont do anything.
- Then take the bet amount down again to $
- Spin 4x by choosing the winning spins. If you are looking and spinning is not a winner, choose nothing and then hit the bet button again. The fifth spin will be a 1x,2x, or 3x bonus and should generate a payout between $–$
- You can keep betting $, and the free spins will occur in the next five spins, paying you between $$1,
The above can assist you in beating a Pennsylvania skill game. There are other titles, such as Pennsylvania skill game pirates, to use the above tips on to get a decent payout. If you feel like mixing it up and playing games online, there are also several online casinos with free signup bonus for real money that you can play at as well.
Will PA Skill Machines be banned?
To say that PA Skill machines have attracted some unwanted attention is a bit of an understatement. Not everyone is happy that skill machines are available in The Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Against Illegal Gambling (PAIG) group has made several attempts to get the games banned across the state but so far has been unsuccessful. The group feels that Skill games are actually illegal and should not be available to play in restaurants, convenience stores, bars, and other locations.
PAIG is trying to get many illegal skill games shut down as there are lots of places over the state that have these machines installed illegally. They have contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and also the county health departments to try and get business owners to shut down any machines still operating in their establishments immediately.
Why does PAIG have objections to skill gaming machines in PA? Well, their stance is that the games arent regulated like casinos in the state, and PA online casinos are, under the PGCB. The places the machines are found in, also do not pay any extra tax like casinos and racinos across the state do. They also feel it encourages gambling and that the games are more slot-type games than actual games of skill.
Summary
A Pennsylvania skill game differs from regular gaming terminals as there is an element of skill required. We use the word element as these games dont give you a massive chance to beat the house edge. For example, you could affect 5% of the RTP through your skill, but if the RTP is 85%, you can only achieve up to 90% RTP. PA skill game odds are set around 90% so do work in a players favor.
Pennsylvania skill games remain somewhat controversial, and the PAIG has made efforts to shut some down. It remains to be seen if these skill game terminals will be shut down permanently.
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Titles include Wonka, Lightning Link and Wheel of Fortune. Plus, over hot new slot titles like Rakin’ Bacon, Mighty Cash and Leprechaun’s Gold.
Presque Isle Downs & Casino
Perry Highway, Erie, PA
Slots: 1, slots in denominations ranging from $ to $ There’s a high limit room.
Titles include Double Diamond, Quick Hits Platinum and Wolf Run.
Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands Bethlehem)
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem, PA
Slots: ,square-foot casino featuring 3, slot machines. Slots range in denomination from $ to $ Unique game themes and progressive jackpot machines. Plus, multi-line, multi-coin, interactive bonus screen games.
Titles include Wheel of Fortune, Quick Hits and Diamond Jackpot — Triple Blazing 7s.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
Slots: Over 2, slot machines from penny slots to a high limit slots Pennsylvania skill slot machine locations. Plus, over 1, slots in a nonsmoking area. Titles include Quick Hits Platinum, Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune and Double Top Dollar.
New slots include Rakin’ Bacon, American Original and The Price is Right Plinko.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia
N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Slots: Over 3, slot machines, including old-school classics, hot new favorites, penny machines and high rollers. Titles include Lightning Link, 88 Fortunes and Stinkin’ Rich.
New slots include 5 Dragons Gold and Jinse Dao Dragon.
Mount Airy Casino
Woodland Road, Mount Pocono, PA
Slots: Over 1, slots. Titles include penny classics like Wheel of Fortune and Jackpot Party. Cutting-edge games include 88 Fortunes and Buffalo.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA
Slots: Over slot machines.
Titles include Triple Double Diamond, Money Rain Deluxe and Cleopatra Gold. Newer slots include Dragon Link — Golden Century and Wonder 4 Spinning Fortunes.
Valley Forge Casino Resort
First Ave., King of Prussia, PA
Slots: of the hottest and most popular slot machines, including new titles.
Popular slot titles include Wonder 4, Buffalo Rush, Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo Gold and Quick Hits.
Slot Machine FAQ
Can you win money playing slots online?
Starting July 15, at a variety of licensed PA online casinos you certainly can. Playing for real money on any other casinos site is illegal and you might have a tough time getting paid any money you might win.
Is it legal to play online slot machines?
Pennsylvanias casino expansion laws made it legal for licensed operators to offer Free vegas casino slot machines slots to players inside the state.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has set July 15, as the date when the casinos will officially launch and legal online slot play will begin.
Which PA online game has the best payout rate?
The house edge for PA casino blackjack under PGCB rules is only percent.
That means the game has a an RTP of percent. In other words, $ of every $ bet on Blackjack at a PA casino will be returned to players. If the same rules apply to online blackjack, it will be the PA online game with the best payout rate.
However, if any PA online casino offers Single-Deck Blackjack, thatll beat it. Single-Deck Blackjack has an RTP of percent, better than any other casino game in the world.
Are the slot machines online in PA fair?
PA online slots are powered by the same system and overseen by the same government organization as the slots in land-based casinos.
That means that PA online slots are vetted in much the same way and are just as safe to play.
That organization is the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and while they dont remove the house edge on slots, they do ensure its set at 15 percent or less.
The PGCB also puts the online slots through a rigorous testing process to ensure that everything is fair and above board.
What happens if I win a jackpot?
If you win a jackpot playing slots at an online casino in PA you should see the money in your account immediately.
Go through the quick and easy withdrawal process to get your hands on the actual money, but make sure you set aside some for taxes.
You are on the honor system to report this as income to the IRS.
However, your net gambling winnings are taxable at a rate of 25 percent, no matter how and where you won it.
Can I use my players reward card?
This is online casino dependent. However, it appears that most PA online casinos will allow you to earn and redeem points at both their land-based and online casino partners.