Distributor Issues Legal Challenge to Philadelphia’s Skill Game Ban

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Philadelphia City Council has recently voted to pass legislation to ban skill games in the US state, which has led to the immediate filing of a lawsuit challenging the decision. The legal challenge has been brought by G&B Amusements, a distributor for skill game manufacturer Pace-O-Matic and a 7-Eleven franchise.

Following the unanimous vote, the law now prohibits payouts from skill game machines in venues without a liquor license and at least thirty seats in the location. Larger venues will be limited to five machines terminals where customers can play skill games.

The council has advised that venues that violate the law will initially be fined up to $1,000 a day for each machine. Continued violation of the law will lead to eventual suspension of the business license of the operator where the breaches occur. The lawsuit against the legislation to ban skill games has cited several arguments against the proposed rule changes in the state.

Curtis Jones Jr a Council member of Philadelphia City and sponsor of the legislation acknowledged the bill could be improved but was a good point to start, saying “It is not a perfect bill, and we are open to continued conversations with people to figure out how to make it a better bill.”

Council Is Overstepping with Gambling Regulation

Gambling and gaming legislation is overseen at the state level and one of the central arguments in the lawsuit is that the local council in Philadelphia is overstepping its authority by introducing legislation that should be covered by state legislation.

In the details of the lawsuit, it is pointed out that at the state level, the skill game machines were not seen as gambling in a decision in the state of Pennsylvania, as they incorporated an element of memory during gameplay. The lawsuit includes other areas including the allegation the new legislation infringes on property rights and unfairly targets skill games.

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