Cranberry Township strikes down request by local business to approve skill game machines
CRANBERRY TWP — A conditional use application filed by a local business for permission to use eight skill games machines at its existing space was struck down by township supervisors with a 4-0 vote at the Thursday, Oct. 1, township supervisors meeting.
Skill Games 777, the business that filed the application for use of what it calls “amusement devices,” is an arcade located in Excel Center on Route 19.
The decision comes just a few days before Oct. 13, when enforcement of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s June 15 ruling that skill games are slot machines and must follow the same regulations goes into effect.
A public hearing about the application that was hosted by supervisors on Aug. 27. After that meeting, parties were given until Sept. 15 to submit any noncompulsory, post-hearing proposals.
Township manager Dan Santoro said the request was denied based on testimony at the public hearing. The township’s legal representation argued the township does not have the ability to allow use for something the state has deemed illegal.
An adjudication process by the township followed the hearing and came to the same conclusion, leading to a recommendation the township deny the request, township solicitor Paul Lalley said.
“These games have been determined to be illegal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and for that reason, as well as others, the board doesn’t even have the authority at this point to approve these types of facilities,” Santoro said.
The eight devices have been operating at the business’s location for some time, but will have to be taken out to avoid enforcement action by authorities.
Supervisor Bruce Mazzoni was absent at the meeting.
