Authorities Seize 400 Illegal Gambling Devices in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania continues to take a hardline stance against gambling machines in the state, with a lot of the devices available at venues such as bars, convenience stores, and gas stops operating in a legal grey area at best.

Pennsylvania Illegal Gambling Devices Busted – But Not Much Information Available

Now, an operation launched by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General resulted in the confiscation of 400 illegal gambling machines removed from dozens of venues across the state. The state is similarly pressing on the legal front, having filed felony corrupt organizations charges against Buffalo Skill Games, Inc., and J.J Amusement, Inc.

Prosecutors have clarified that the two businesses are owned by John F. Conley, who already has a rap sheet and has faced federal convictions for illegal gambling. He is hardly the only owner of such companies to have faced closer scrutiny and charges.

In a statement, Attorney General Dave Sunday had this to say:

“These devices were essentially slot machines dressed up as skill games. I commend our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police for helping disband a large-scale operation that netted a tremendous amount of illegal gambling profits.”

Attorney General Dave Sunday

The latest move is part of a broader crackdown on such operations, but some details about the new seizures are missing. Prosecutors and investigators have refrained from detailing how much money the businesses may have been bringing in, nor how much money was seized, if any.

Skill games have been an ongoing issue for all parties involved, with the providers of such devices arguing that they do not fall into the traditional definition of legal slot machines and can be provided freely.

Lawmakers have mostly agreed, acquiescing to this claim or at least failing to pass amendments to existing laws that specifically outlaw them.

At the same time, business owners have described these devices as a lifeline and a way to guarantee that they can stay in business.