Skill Games Get the Blame as Hollywood Casino Removes 169 Slots

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Ramona Depares

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Ramona has been working in journalism for 15+ years, specializing in entertainment, lifestyle and online gaming news. She was head of media for one of the biggest organizers of gaming conferences, giving her a taste of staying ahead of the curve of online casino and sports betting trends.

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Last Updated: 
Sep 2^nd, 2024

It certainly looks like the owners of PA online casinos and retail venues aren’t going to let the skill games issue go, as Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has cited the controversial machines as being the reason for the removal of 169 slots from its gaming floor. 

The Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board (PGCB) approved the request, which was filed in May this year and authorized all changes requested. While presenting its case, the casino placed the blame squarely on skill games as the main reason behind the move.

Slots Gaming Floor Now Down By 9.94%

The PGCB petition, delineates how this reduction will leave 1,532 slot machines available for play at Hollywood Casino. This represents a reduction of 9.94% in the slots floor, from the original 1701. 510 of the remaining slots will be housed in the smoking section.

When presenting its case on August 21, the casino went into great detail about the impact of skill games, claiming that 77+ locations with more than 325 skill games within a 10-mile radius of Hollywood Casino had impacted slots occupancy.

It also pointed out that it had observed several responsible gaming issues at some of these premises, backing up its accusations with photographic evidence of minors minding these stores, the storekeepers themselves playing the games and no responsible gambling warnings available.

The casino also reproduced a statement by the Pennsylvania Horeseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (PAHBA) whereby the association joined the casino in “expressing its concern about unregulated and untaxed so-called skill games that have proliferated all around the Commonwealth”.

The changes were granted on condition that the casino coordinates with the Bureau of Gaming Operations and Bureau of Casino Compliance by submitting an updated slots list, and that the areas of the casino that will be affected by the removal will retain adequate surveillance coverage.

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Last Updated: 
Sep 2^nd, 2024