Pennsylvania Small Business Owners Join Forces to Protest Skill Games Ban

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 27, 2024

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Small business owners in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, have joined forces with skill game operators to oppose a recently enacted ordinance banning the machines. At a town meeting on Monday night, local entrepreneurs, employees, and advocates turned out to voice their concerns, presenting a petition with 200 signatures urging the township to reverse its decision.

The ban, unanimously approved by Bensalem Township last month, took effect within 10 days of its passage. For many small businesses, skill games have been a critical source of revenue, helping them cover expenses like rent and utilities. At the meeting, attendees wore t-shirts with slogans such as “Skill Games = Jobs” and “VFWs For Skill Games,” signaling the broader community impact of the ordinance.

Amarjeet Singh, a local business owner, spoke on behalf of the affected community. Presenting the signed petition, he appealed to the council to reconsider their stance, warning of potential job losses for both business owners and their employees. 

Singh argued that targeting small businesses under the pretext of crime prevention was unfair, stating, “Crime and law enforcement issues are not exclusive to small businesses with skill games. This selective targeting is arbitrary.”

Public Safety Director William McVey justified the ban by citing concerns over crime associated with skill games. However, many in attendance challenged this reasoning, with some pointing out that crime is not unique to establishments with these machines.

Sonny Chopra, a skill game operator, criticized the lack of transparency in how the ordinance was passed. He said, “The way it was passed, no offense, but nobody knew what was going on. I would request that you guys reconsider it because it’s not right for the small businesses. [Skill games] were helping them.”

The issue has escalated beyond Bensalem, with Pennsylvania Skill, an organization representing skill game operators, filing a lawsuit to challenge the ordinance. Pennsylvania Skill spokesman Mike Barley accused the township of disregarding the needs of small businesses and nonprofits that depend on the games for income. He alleged that the ordinance serves the interests of large, international casinos rather than local businesses.

Barley also emphasized the need for statewide regulation and taxation of skill games, which could generate revenue for the state while eliminating illegal machines. “The ordinance imposes unnecessary and costly mandates on small businesses already struggling to survive,” he said. “Township Supervisors should listen to the concerns of constituents and rescind the ordinance as soon as possible.”

While a Commonwealth Court ruling last year upheld the legality of skill games, the issue remains unresolved, pending a decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. For now, small businesses and their supporters are determined to keep fighting policies they view as unjust.