Survey Says! ‘Family Feud’ Coming to Neighborhood Skill Games

“Family Feud” is coming to skill games, the slot-like gambling machines commonly found in neighborhood stores, restaurants, bars, fire halls, social clubs, and fraternal organizations.

Georgia-based Pace-O-Matic (POM), a leading provider of skill games, recently announced a licensing deal with global entertainment giant Fremantle to develop a series of skill games based on the popular, long-running syndicated television game show.

“‘Family Feud’ is jam-packed with high-energy entertainment that lets you test your survey-based knowledge with a side of comedy gold,” said POM President and CEO Paul Goldean. “It takes skill to win, and that’s what makes it a perfect fit for a Pace-O-Matic skill game.”

Since its premiere 50 years ago, “Family Feud” has remained among the most popular TV game shows in the United States. Fremantle has produced the daily family versus family competition since 2002.

POM says its “Family Feud” skill games will debut in the coming weeks.  

Licensing Deals

“Family Feud” was created in 1976 by Richard Dawson, who served as the game’s original host. The game show is commemorating its semicentennial by licensing the brand to various gaming-related entities.

Along with POM, last year Fremantle entered into an agreement with BetMGM for the iGaming platform to incorporate “Family Feud” slots, table games, and “non-traditional casino games.” BetMGM’s deal with Fremantle additionally included the intellectual property rights for the use of “The Price Is Right,” another popular TV game show produced by Fremantle.

Playtech has been the exclusive provider of “Family Feud” casino slot machines since 2023.

Skill Game Legality

POM’s licensing deal with Fremantle to develop and distribute “Family Feud” skill games comes after the company was dealt a major business setback by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

In June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are illegal slot machines under the state’s current law. The high court rejected POM’s claims that because its machines are not solely dependent on chance, as a player can alter the game’s payout rate, they are immune from the Pennsylvania Gaming Act.

The court disagreed, ruling that POM’s Pennsylvania Skill games meet the legal definition of slot machines. Pennsylvania is POM’s largest operating market, and without prompt legislative action from lawmakers in Harrisburg, the company’s tens of thousands of skill games will need to be powered off by Oct. 28 when the court’s 120-day stay ends.

POM previously operated in Virginia before the Virginia Supreme Court ruled its Queen of Virginia games illegal. Subsequent legislation to legalize the machines failed to gain approval from the General Assembly.

POM continues to distribute its skill games in a legal gray area in Wyoming (Cowboy Skill), Texas (Lone Star Skill), Illinois (Illinois Skill), and Kansas (Dragon’s Ascent).