What Are Games Of Skill
Philadelphia police arrested three men who sources believe are connected with a ring of thefts targeting Pennsylvania 'games of skill' machines.
A police spokesperson told Action News the three suspects all from Philadelphia are identified as Tyreek Holmes, 32, Russell Mason-Watts, 20, and Marcus Evans, 36.
Sources believe they are the same trio who have been hitting area convenience stores and gas stations and using a sledgehammer to destroy the cash boxes attached to the skill machines. They were caught at several stores on surveillance video.
On Thursday night, employees at a 7-Eleven - unsuccessfully hit by three offenders in the 7900 block of Veree Road - alerted police who were already moving in on the suspects.
After the men fled the store, a highway patrol officer recognized the car they were driving, stopped them and arrested them. A witness from the earlier attempted robbery identified the trio.
SEE ALSO:Sledgehammer-wielding thieves targeting Philly convenience store gaming machines
The string of thefts recently began hitting convenience stores and gas stations in the Northeast and other sections of Philadelphia and Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania.
Director of Public Safety Fred Harran said the machines, relatively new in the state, are easy targets.
'It's new because the machines are popping up, but now they're all over the place. I'm sure the criminals, they walk into the same convenience stores as everyone else and they see people put cash into a machine and they must think, 'Wow that's an easy pickings,' and they're right,' he said.
Harran says they made an arrest in a similar crime in November, but does not know if that perpetrator is connected with Philadelphia's arrest Thursday night.
Concern increased in the past two weeks when a thief showed a gun and authorities feared the ring was getting bolder.
Game of skill definition is - a game (as chess) in which skill rather than chance determines the outcome. Our skill games will test every aspect of your gaming talents. Go retro, and try a classic arcade challenge. Play games like Asteroids, Snake, and tons of other legendary adventures! Shoot enemies in classic 2D, with 8-bit graphics and low-fi sounds. Or, jump into the 21st century, and try a jumping or launching game.
Michael Barley, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Skill Company, the company that manufactures the machines, says they are relieved to hear of an arrest.
'It's been over a month where we've been tracking these thefts. The biggest victim is the coin operator, the folks that place the machine the mom and pop businesses. Those games are really helping to keep those businesses afloat especially now during the pandemic,' he said.
In light of the string of thefts, they are making changes to the cash boxes, added Barley.
'We've already made dramatic changes to the machines to help safeguard against that as much as you can,' he said.
Virginia lawmakers in the General Assembly are committed to banning skilled games in 2021. Many video lottery terminals are located in convenience stores, bars and other small businesses in the state by the company Queen of Virginia.
Virginia Lawmakers, including Governor Ralph Northam, seek to eliminate them, despite the games being a source of income amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
So, what exactly are skilled games in the state of Virginia? Skilled games are considered any game (particularly a video terminal) that takes a person’s money and provides cash in return.
More specifically, House Bill 881 defines a skill game as an electronic, computerized, or mechanical contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device that requires the insertion of a coin, currency, ticket, token, or similar object to operate, activate, or play a game, the outcome of which is determined by any element of skill of the player and that may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the device to receive cash; cash equivalents, gift cards, vouchers, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash; merchandise; or anything of value whether the payoff is made automatically from the device or manually.
Games Of Skill For Money
Representatives from Queen of Virginia, the company responsible for many of Virginia’s gaming terminals say their machines are superior to what their competitors would offer (think slot and poker machines without a ‘skill-testing’ aspect), and questioned the assembly on whether that’s a change they’d like to see. Although some of these games have features that resemble slots or other ‘instantly gratifying’ games, they require players to remember and input a sequence of patterns to unlock the next game, prizes or other game features.
Like we mention above, these machines have contributed to the state’s economy and are part of the state’s Covid-19 Relief Fund, and are allowed to operate until July 1, 2021. Distributors must not relocate skill game machines in excess of 20% of the total number of skill games initially registered.
Virginia State flag—The state aims to ban Virginia Skill Games in 2021.
Why Ban Virginia Skill Games?
So, why the sudden ban on skilled games in Virginia? These games are helping businesses thrive—One bar and grill owner in Virginia has been able to offer an employee a dental plan, while other business owners have been able to increase wages and do renovations.
However, Virginia lawmakers say Virginia Skill Games are taking money away from lottery-ticket sales that typically help fund schools, and say sales have dropped 11.3% in the past year. They also say it will be too expensive to fully regulate them as they have the lottery.
Virginia Lawmakers to Vote on Casino Gaming Measure
As of September 2020, there are no land-based casinos in Virginia. But that might change in the coming months.
On November 3, 2020 Virginia residents in 4 cities—Portsmouth, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol will have a chance to vote on whether or not land-based casinos will operate in their city in an Order of Referendum for casinos. Residents will be able to vote in favor of supporting casino gaming at a casino establishment located in their city, or opposing it.
Skill Game Machines
Currently, there are various bodies in each city campaigning for, and against, land-based casinos in their respective cities.
What Are Games Of Skills
Learn more about gambling laws in Virginia with our gambling guides, or, checkout our casino reviews for our in-depth reviews and discover your new, favorite online casino.