Illegal Gambling Firms Masquerading as Skill Game Enterprises Agree to $5M Forfeiture, Dissolution

Posted on: April 8, 2026, 03:26h. 

Last updated on: April 8, 2026, 03:26h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Pennsylvania has secured a $5 million forfeiture from two illegal gambling companies
  • The enterprises have agreed to close in part of their plea deals
  • AG Dave Sunday continues cracking down on illegal slots in the commonwealth

Two companies in Pennsylvania that claimed to develop and distribute skill games across the commonwealth have pleaded guilty to felony charges and agreed to pay a multimillion-dollar settlement and wind down their businesses.

illegal gambling Pennsylvania skill games
Illegal gambling machines continue to be the focus of law enforcement in Pennsylvania. State Attorney General Dave Sunday has recently announced felony corrupt organizations pleas for several Pennsylvania businesses that admitted to running illegal gambling companies. (Image: Shutterstock)

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Buffalo Skill Games, Inc., and JJ Amusement, Inc., had agreed to dissolution and the forfeiture of $5 million in cash and assets. The terms were settled upon through a plea resolution.

State law enforcement seized nearly 400 illegal gambling devices tied to Buffalo Skill and JJ from more than 60 locations in several western Pennsylvania counties. The companies marketed their games to host businesses as skill games, which continue to flood the commonwealth in a gray manner.

But unlike the Pennsylvania Skill brand, the most widespread skill game, Buffalo Skill and JJ’s terminals were unregulated, illegal slot machines, many of which featured dismal odds. 

Sunday Scaries

Since becoming Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official in January 2025, Sunday has used the attorney general’s office to rid the commonwealth of unregulated slot machines.

In February, Sunday’s office announced a $3 million forfeiture in cash and assets from Schuylkill County-based Deibler Brothers Novelty, which admitted to distributing illegal slot machines. Buffalo Skill and JJ Amusement pleaded guilty to felony corrupt organizations for their widespread distribution of illegal gambling devices.

The Pennsylvania State Police assisted Sunday’s Gaming Enforcement unit in carrying out the gaming machine seizures. The machines were found inside bars, gas stations, and convenience stores in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Crawford, Indiana, Somerset, Venango, Erie, Washington, Armstrong, and Westmoreland.

Sunday said illegal gambling operations are not victimless.

Illegal gambling can fuel criminal enterprises, exploit individuals addicted to gambling, and rip off consumers with games that are not regulated, provide little or no chance of winning, and do not comply with gambling self-exclusion lists intended to protect those struggling with addiction,” Sunday explained.

“This resolution secures a multimillion-dollar forfeiture for the Commonwealth, while assuring the companies will cease to exist. I commend our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police for helping disband a large-scale operation that involved slot machines essentially dressed up as skill games,” the Pennsylvania AG added. 

Skill Game Dispute 

True skill games combine elements of aptitude with chance.

Proponents of the games, like software developer Pace-O-Matic and its manufacturer, Miele, claim the games are not solely based on luck and are therefore immune from the Pennsylvania Gaming Act. State courts have agreed, though an appeal remains with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The state’s highest court is expected to decide if skill games fall under the scope of the Gaming Act in the coming weeks.