Slot route operations in Pennsylvania

Single site operating may be permitted in Pennsylvania, US, under a bill currently under debate.

Neighbouring Illinois has route operating, with gambling machines in street locations and Pennsylvania is considering following suit, says Fantini’s Gaming Report.

The legalising of street operations could come as soon as this month, says Fantini, making the state a target for big national operators such as Golden Entertainment and Accel.

The current bill calls for up to five slots each at liquor-licensed outlets with revenues taxed at 52 per cent. In Illinois, slot routes generated gross revenues of $1.677bn last year and Pennsylvania is a similar-sized state in terms of population at 12.8m.

Analysts consider the example of Illinois and now possibly Pennsylvania, as a benchmark for other states seeking new sources of taxation revenue to fill budget deficits that have been built up through the Covid-19 pandemic.