PENN CEO wants 'illegal' skill games out of Pennsylvania, awaits PA Supreme Court decision

Unregulated skill games have long been a controversial topic in Pennsylvania gaming circles. PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowdon thinks the controversy needs to end with shutting down skill machines across the state. He's hoping an upcoming Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision puts skill games out of commission and provides a boost to his Hollywood Casino chain.

As we reported in February, a federal judge ruled that skill games are illegal in Missouri. This comforts Snowdown, who's hoping the PA Supreme Court makes the same decision. 

He had this to say during a recent PENN Q1 2026 earnings call:

"The skill game legal case is going to be in front of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court in the next couple of months. [...] In Missouri, you have an attorney general who we think is doing a fantastic job stepping up and shutting devices down. 

"The argument is often that bar and tavern owners need the machines, or else they may not have a profitable operation. The reality is these are illegal."

Snowdon added that skill machines being declared unlawful in Pennsylvania would "ultimately be a tailwind" for his company.

PENN Entertainment operates Hollywood Casino Penn National Race Course (Grantville), Hollywood Casino York, and Hollywood Casino at the Meadows (Washington) in Pennsylvania. Like the state's other gaming companies, it's currently sharing a market with 70,000 tp 100,000 skill games across the state.

The state Supreme Court is set to rule on skill gaming in the coming weeks. Its opinion will likely determine whether these machines remain available or are shut down throughout the Keystone State.

As Snowdon highlighted, many local bar owners argue that they need skill-game revenue to stay in business. But the casinos' argument is that bars and taverns shouldn't be allowed to offer unregulated gambling just to stay afloat.

Proponents often point to these games having some element of skill. However, the skill is very minimal, such as manually tapping each winning combination to collect it. For the most part, these games operate just like land-based or real money online slots.

The PA Supreme Court could classify skill machines as valid games of chance, rather than deeming them completely illegal. But this would require all operators to obtain proper licensing and pay necessary fees, something most bar owners couldn't afford.

For years, PA online casinos, land-based casinos, and skill-game businesses have operated in the same market. Of course, the amount of gambling dollars that can go around is only so much.

Assuming the Supreme Court outlaws skill games, it would give brick-and-mortar casinos a boost. After all, some of those who play at bars might visit their local casino instead, even though a variety of online casino payment methods make online gaming easy.

Banning skill machines likely wouldn't give much boost to casino apps. The same crowd that enjoys playing something like online Megaways slots, for example, doesn't automatically overlap with land-based players.

But some skill-machine players who suddenly found their favorite games illegal might open up to enticing online casino bonus codes in PA.

For example, you can get a $10 sign-up bonus and up to $1,000 in casino credits by signing up at Caesars Palace Online with promo code SPORTSLINE2500.

Pennsylvania online casinos promote responsible gaming by providing options for deposit, session, and wagering limits. They also offer self-exclusion programs and helpful resources to players who may be struggling with control.

Jeremy Olson