Pennsylvania: Meadville City Council votes to limit the locations of future skill game parlorls

The Meadville City Council has unanimously voted to limit the locations of future skill game parlors within the township, as these unregulated machines keep stirring debate in Pennsylvania. Currently, the legality of the games rests in the hands of the state's Supreme Court, which is hearing the case at some point in the near future. 

Skill games resemble slot machines and offer cash winnings but are legally distinct from games of chance because players make a choice of some sort and have an opportunity to win every play. These games are found in convenience stores, bars, social clubs, and plenty of other locations.

While skill games have won every court decision so far, momentum is not on its side, as shown by Meadville City's recent decision. The council's vote enacted preliminary changes to zoning approvals in which businesses can operate skill games. However, current establishments, as well as businesses where skill games form a secondary presence, remain unaffected.

The new zoning rules, which go to another vote for final approval at the end of the month, essentially prevent new owners in Meadville from opening skill games parlors. 

The city is also opening three zones in which businesses can legally employ the machines. In those legal zones, owners must endure a lengthy process in order to carry new skill games, according to The Meadvile Tribune. 

The steps applicants must follow include making their case and presenting plans to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board; notifying neighbors and allowing them to offer their comments; and receiving a positive vote from five board appointees.

As per the report, the zones where future skill games will be allowed are the economic development corridor located west of French Creek Parkway and two general business and manufacturing zones, one located along the North Street-State Street corridor between Water and Grant streets and the other located along Park Avenue from Pine Street to Linden Street.

If the final vote passes at the end of the month, it gives business owners some time to open establishments in the meantime. However, the move is likely to still hurt skill games.

Skill machines had gained momentum, especially after the Commonwealth Court unanimously ruled the games legal last December. However, recent events could change its near-perfect track record in courts.

In April, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a bill into law that banned skill games from city gas stations and corner stores, citing increased crime. The second major event is the Supreme Court’s willingness to hear the case to determine the games' legality. 

The highest court is going to address the following two issues:

“Does an electronic slot machine cease to be an illegal ‘gambling device,’ governed predominantly by chance, if the machine’s manufacturers embed into its programming a so-called “skill” element that is almost entirely hidden from view and is almost impossible to complete?

“Should gambling statutes governing ‘slot machines’ be read in pari materia to supply an appropriate definition of the term?”