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Penn State and NFL star LaVar Arrington support legal skill games.
The Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) is a 501(C)(4) organization whose membership is comprised of small businesses (including bars and restaurants), fraternal clubs, veterans’ groups, fire halls, and other social and charitable organizations. We all share a goal of earning revenue while creating spaces where our customers can enjoy themselves.
Our primary legislative focus is to pass legislation that further regulates and taxes the skill game industry in Pennsylvania. We are also focused on allowing restaurants and bars to sell “ready to drink” cocktails to–go, providing bars and restaurants with greater discounts on spirits purchases, and giving bars and restaurants more flexibility on beer purchasing.
Unlike slot machines are games of chance, skill games require a player to use their skill, patience, and hand-eye dexterity to win. A patient, skillful player has the opportunity to win the game every time.
Yes. In Pennsylvania, skill games were ruled a game of predominant skill in 2017 by a Pennsylvania court. This has been upheld in several Pennsylvania courts since, including a unanimous Commonwealth Court ruling in November 2023.
Unlike games of chance that have a predetermined outcome (like slot machines and VGTs), skill games do not have a prescribed win ratio that determines when a player wins or loses. The outcome of a skill game is determined solely by a player’s actions in the game. The more skillful they are, the better the result.
Yes. Skill games are legal in many states and are additionally regulated and taxed in Wyoming, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.
Skill games support Pennsylvania small businesses and fraternal organizations by providing additional revenue to supplement their traditional income base. For many businesses, these games have made it possible to recover from the income losses experienced during the pandemic, manage the increasing price of goods, and meet higher expected wages during the current labor shortage. Additionally, if regulated, skill games would produce an estimated $250 million in additional, annual tax revenue directly to the state in just the first year.
Skill games provide partners with 40% of profits with no hidden fees or additional costs. Another 40% goes to a local operator. Our Pennsylvania-based distributor also makes a percentage of the profit ensuring that over 90% of the revenue stays in Pennsylvania. Once regulated and taxed, skill games will have even more of a positive impact on small businesses and the state economy.