Pennsylvania State Police plan to begin seizing skill-game machines from businesses statewide on Oct. 14, 2026, after a deadline for removing the devices expires at midnight Tuesday, Oct. 13. The enforcement plan follows a June ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that classified the machines as slot machines under the state’s gaming law. After the deadline, only licensed casinos and qualifying, licensed truck stops may possess and operate approved gaming terminals, according to state officials. Businesses that continue to keep, operate or maintain unlicensed machines could face criminal prosecution and other enforcement actions. State police have warned that simply switching a machine off or unplugging it will not prevent enforcement if it remains readily operable. The deadline follows a 120-day pause in enforcement intended to give state lawmakers time to reach an agreement. Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed a 52% tax on skill games, while Republican leaders in the state Senate favor a rate closer to 35%. The machines had operated for years in a legal gray area as lawmakers debated how to regulate and tax them. The impending removal could affect more than store owners. Some community organizations say revenue from the machines has helped cover expenses; one Montgomery County fire company said in a 2024 report that the funds helped pay insurance and electric bills. Businesses with liquor licenses can seek assistance from their local Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement office. Those without liquor licenses can contact their local police department or State Police station. State police have also advised businesses to contact authorities if a distributor or vendor will not remove a machine.