Pennsylvania Veterans Organizations Back HB1050 to Legalize Electronic Pull-Tabs After Skill Games Ruling
PlayPA for Charity groups including American Legion and VFW back HB1050 to authorize electronic pull-tabs after the Supreme Court banned skill games effective Oct. 13, 2026. The bill raises prize caps from $2,000/$35,000 to $5,000/$70,000 and cuts mandatory charitable payouts from 60% to 25%. It limits machines to 10 or fewer per venue.
SCCG Take — This effort exposes the direct revenue fallout from the skill games ruling on nonprofits. Lawmakers face a narrow window to adapt charitable rules while maintaining clear separation from commercial casino products.
Pennsylvania veterans and fraternal organizations are calling on state lawmakers to authorize electronic pull-tab machines. The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other groups united as PlayPA for Charity warn that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court order to remove skill gaming machines by Oct. 13, 2026 will cut revenue at thousands of nonprofit clubs. The court classified the devices as illegal slot machines.
Current charitable gaming law in the state is restricted to paper-based punchboards, pull-tabs, pools, and raffles. Nonprofits must direct at least 60% of revenue to public interest purposes. PlayPA for Charity argues the shift leaves clubs unable to cover rising bills or sustain community giving.
Revenue Impact and Bill Provisions
The groups have joined support for House Bill 1050, introduced by state Rep. Thomas MeHaffie (D-Dauphin) in March 2025. The measure is cosponsored by nine Democrats and two Republicans. It would permit electronic charitable games that avoid mimicking slots, keno, blackjack, roulette, poker, or craps, while allowing progressive pull-tab jackpots that carry over.
HB1050 would raise the single-prize limit from $2,000 to $5,000 and the weekly per-club cap from $35,000 to $70,000. It proposes cutting the required public interest payout from 60% to 25%, letting clubs retain 75% for operations. Larger venues would face a limit of 10 machines; smaller sites could operate five to seven.
Pascha K., a manager at the American Legion Post 26 in Dillsburg, said: “We give 60% to other organizations and we want to be able to do more — not only keep up with our bills that have doubled but also be able to give more to veterans and to the community. A change in the small games of chance law would help us pay our bills and keep up with the changing times.”
Legislative Path Ahead
HB1050 remains in the House Gaming Oversight Committee, where MeHaffie is a member. The committee is scheduled to meet on Sept. 29 and continue skill games discussions. As reported by Casino.org, the timing is pressing given the impending removal deadline. The bill offers a potential bridge to sustain these organizations’ financial footing and community contributions without crossing into casino-style operations.
Reporting: Casino.org News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →