Listen To Article
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control and Enforcement (BLCE) conducted searches that resulted in the improper seizure of the property, which included gambling machines, associated equipment and cash.
Matthew Haverstick of Kleinbard LLC, counsel for Pace-O-Matic, said: “Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill games are legal. The Commonwealth has wrongfully seized this equipment for years with no credible evidence that they are illegal. This issue as a matter of law is decided and the courts have ruled appropriately and consistently so.”
Mike Barley, Pace-O-Matic’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, said: “Again, another Pennsylvania Court has found that Pennsylvania Skill games, powered by Pace-O-Matic, are legal games of predominant skill.
“Our Pennsylvania Skill game has been ruled a game of predominant skill by multiple courts across the Commonwealth. With the legality of our games upheld repeatedly, we are eager to work with the legislature to pass legislation that will fairly regulate and tax the skill game industry.”
The games have been returned in Clearfield and Delaware Counties after reviewing the law and judicial rulings.
Barley added: “Last month, we received a favourable ruling in Dauphin County declaring Pennsylvania Skill games legal. The Dauphin County Court ruling also castigates the Commonwealth and BLCE for their biased conduct.”
Judge Andrew H. Dowling of Dauphin County Common Pleas wrote: “All three of the Commonwealth witnesses opined that the games were predominantly games of chance. However, we do not find these opinions to be persuasive for many reasons…”
Last month, Judge Jennifer Harlacher Sibum of Monroe County Common Pleas wrote: “The court finds that the Commonwealth improperly withheld and misrepresented material evidence relative to the issuance of the search warrant in this matter and that such conduct warrants the suppression of the seized property.”
