Most state legislatures have adjourned for the year, so the list of skill game bills 2026 operators can still watch is short. Pennsylvania is where those bills matter most right now, and it let a state Supreme Court deadline pass without passing any of them. Michigan has bills pending in committee. North Carolina and Ohio each have a related terminal bill that hasn't moved. Virginia's bill was vetoed in April.
Pennsylvania: deadline passes, machines come down
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on June 16, 2026 that "skill games are, in fact, slot machines subject to gambling laws," according to Spotlight PA. The ruling came with a 120-day stay. Spotlight PA reported on Oct. 16 that the ruling covers an estimated 70,000 machines statewide and that the stay ran until Oct. 13 so lawmakers could take "whatever legislative action it may deem appropriate."
Four lawmakers asked for another 120 days: Reps. Danilo Burgos (D., Philadelphia) and Jonathan Fritz (R., Wayne) and Sens. Anthony Williams (D., Philadelphia) and Gene Yaw (R., Lycoming). The court "denied the petition without comment on Oct. 9," according to Spotlight PA's syndicated report.
Spotlight PA reported that Pace-O-Matic disabled its Pennsylvania machines and said it was "complying with the law, and our focus is entirely on working toward a legislative solution." The outlet quoted Pennsylvania State Police as saying PSP "has designated storage locations for skill game machines that are removed by PSP." It quoted the Attorney General's office as saying machines "must be removed, not just powered down, to be in compliance with the law." NBC10 Philadelphia reported that troopers planned to start seizing machines Oct. 14. It quoted police as saying "a slot machine does not cease being a slot machine if it has simply been turned off, unplugged, or temporarily disabled." NBC10 also reported that only licensed casinos and qualifying, licensed truck stop establishments may legally operate the devices.
The bills still in committee
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HB 2213 (Rep. Burgos) would create "skill video gaming" licensed through the Department of Revenue. It was referred to Gaming Oversight on Feb. 11, 2026, according to the General Assembly. Spotlight PA describes it as industry-backed, with a $500 monthly fee per device and a cap of 50,000 machines.
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HB 2801 (Rep. Russ Diamond, R-102) was referred to Gaming Oversight on Sept. 24, 2026, according to the General Assembly. A House Republican caucus release describes the HB 2801/2802 package. It would tax skill games at 20%, allow no more than five machines in clubs, liquor-licensed restaurants and bars, and qualified truck stops, and cut the casino slot tax to 49.9%.
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SB 626 (Sen. Yaw) was referred to Community, Economic & Recreational Development on April 14, 2025, according to the General Assembly. Spotlight PA describes it as a 16% tax approach.
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SB 756 (Sen. Chris Gebhard, R-48) was referred to the same committee on May 13, 2025, according to the General Assembly. Spotlight PA describes it as a Gaming Control Board model limited to establishments with liquor licenses, with an estimated cap of about 35,000 machines.
Spotlight PA's June report also compared two other approaches. Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget proposed a 52% tax on gross revenue, 40,000 terminals and five per establishment. Senate Republican leadership proposed a 36% rate. The same report describes Rep. Ben Waxman's HB 2557, which would put the games under Gaming Control Board oversight with limits on play speed and daily losses.
Spotlight PA reported that leadership advanced no bill, and that lawmakers remain divided over machine counts, tax rates and how to spend the revenue. House Speaker Joanna McClinton told the outlet: "We remain open, willing to negotiate, get the compromise done, regulate them, tax them." Spotlight PA also reported that action before the end of 2026 is likely out of the question, and that the Nov. 3 election may shape what happens next year.
Michigan: bills pending, oversight fight
Michigan HB 4494 (Rep. Will Snyder) and its tie-barred companion HB 4495 (Rep. Jay DeBoyer) would revise Penal Code provisions on "redemption games." Both were referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform on May 15, 2025, according to the Michigan Legislature, which shows no later action. HB 6068 (Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-70) amends the Penal Code's slot machine definitions. It was referred to the same committee on June 10, 2026, according to the Legislature's site.
MIRS reported that the bills came up at an Aug. 25, 2026 House Oversight Committee hearing chaired by DeBoyer. He said: "It isn't about games, although it isn't about the money. It is about the authority of the government." According to MIRS, Gaming Control Board External Affairs Director Jasmine Tompkins said the board "has not taken enforcement action against veterans organizations."
North Carolina and Ohio: related terminal bills, no recent action
North Carolina HB 999, "Regulation of Video Gaming Terminals," has been in the House Rules committee since April 14, 2025, according to the General Assembly. Ohio HB 344 (Reps. Michael D. Dovilla and Gayle Manning) covers electronic instant bingo and lottery terminals and would levy a tax. The Ohio House shows it in the Finance Committee, not yet reported out. Neither is a skill-game bill. Operators follow them because a state that authorizes video terminals can change the market for other machines.
Virginia: vetoed, worth watching in 2027
Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed Virginia's skill-games legalization bill on April 10, 2026, WDBJ reported. She cited "the absence of a centralized regulatory authority for gaming." VPM identified the bill as SB661 and reported that supporters don't have the two-thirds majority needed to override. VPM also reported that Del. Paul Krizek's gaming-commission bill was continued to 2027.
Texas
We found no pending skill-game bill or interim hearing on eight-liners in Texas. The Sept. 14, 2026 Senate State Affairs hearing notice lists three charges: online gaming platforms and minors, family court proceedings, and monitoring of SB 3070, which transfers lottery administration to TDLR.
What to watch
Editorial view: the next signals are Pennsylvania's position after the Nov. 3 election and whether Michigan's Regulatory Reform committee takes up its bills. Bills filed for 2027 sessions are the other thing to watch. Pennsylvania operators who are reviewing equipment agreements after the removals can use our vendor comparison checklist to record questions and evidence. The worksheet is not legal approval.
Related reading
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Pennsylvania Skill Games Ban Enforcement Begins After Supreme Court Ruling
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What Is an Eight-Liner? Texas Courts Explain Where the Term Comes From
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JVL Corporation Skill Machines: What Texas Operators Should Know
Sources
AI assistance was used in preparing this article. Consult primary sources and qualified counsel for legal decisions.
Reporting is for information, not legal advice. A vendor listing or the term skill game does not establish a machine's legality in any jurisdiction.