Republic Amusements to Lay Off 81 Following Pennsylvania Skill Games Ban

Republic Amusements, a Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based amusement and skill games operator, plans to lay off 81 employees following a statewide ban on unlicensed skill gaming machines, according to a report from SCCG Management, a Las Vegas-based gaming industry consulting firm. The family-owned company, which operates Capital Vending, Apple Vending and Entertainment Experts, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice providing 60 days' notice of the job cuts. The affected employees service approximately 1,000 locations across Pennsylvania, including convenience stores, restaurants, bars, fraternal organizations and family entertainment centers. The layoffs follow a June 15 ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that classified skill games as slot machines under the state's Gaming Act. Pennsylvania State Police began enforcing the prohibition Oct. 14, allowing authorities to seize unauthorized machines and pursue criminal charges against operators and businesses that continue offering them. The ruling affects an estimated 70,000 machines statewide, eliminating a source of revenue for numerous small businesses. Licensed casinos and qualifying truck stops remain authorized to operate approved gaming equipment. Republic Amusements Chief Operating Officer Joe Calla criticized state lawmakers for failing to establish a regulatory and tax framework that could have allowed the machines to continue operating, saying the decision threatens a business his family established nearly 64 years ago and could also affect revenue and employment at businesses hosting the machines. The company is among several Pennsylvania gaming suppliers facing operational disruptions following the ruling; Miele Manufacturing, another major supplier, has announced plans to discontinue operation of its skill game devices. Source: Vending Times — https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/republic-amusements-to-lay-off-81-following-pennsylvania-skill-games-ban/