Pennsylvania’s veterans and fraternal organizations are pushing lawmakers to overhaul charitable gaming before thousands of clubs lose a major source of revenue when skill games are removed next month.
The American Legion Department of Pennsylvania has joined PlayPA for Charity, a coalition supporting House Bill 1050, which would bring electronic pull-tabs into the state’s charitable gaming framework and give eligible clubs more flexibility over their gaming revenue.
The campaign is gaining attention at a crucial time. The House Gaming Oversight Committee is scheduled to discuss skill games on Tuesday, Sept. 29, while the state’s deadline to remove the machines is less than three weeks away.
Not so long ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games qualify as illegal slot machines, meaning the devices must be switched off and removed by Oct. 13. PlayPA for Charity argues that losing the machines could hit nonprofit, veterans, and social clubs particularly hard.
HB1050 has been sitting in the House since March 2025. State Rep. Thomas MeHaffie, a Democrat from Dauphin County, introduced the bill, which has nine Democratic and two Republican cosponsors and remains in the Gaming Oversight Committee.
Clubs Want More Control Over Gaming Revenue
A major part of HB1050 would change how charitable gaming proceeds are distributed. Current law requires organizations to direct at least 60% of their charitable gaming revenue toward public-interest purposes. The bill would reduce that requirement to 25%, allowing qualifying clubs to retain up to 75% of their gaming revenue.
Supporters say that could give organizations more room to cover operating costs while continuing to support veterans and community programs. The proposed changes would also make charitable gaming more flexible. HB1050 would raise the maximum individual prize from $2,000 to $5,000 and double the weekly aggregate prize limit from $35,000 to $70,000.
Electronic Pull-Tabs Would Expand the Existing Framework
HB1050 would authorize electronic pull-tabs, but the machines would have to remain distinct from casino gaming. The bill would prohibit games designed to mimic slots, keno, blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, or other casino products. It would, however, allow progressive pull-tabs where jackpots can carry over between games.
Machine limits would also depend on venue size. Establishments with capacity for at least 250 people could operate up to 10 charitable gaming machines, while smaller venues would be limited to between five and seven. The proposal is therefore being presented as a modernization of Pennsylvania’s existing small-games-of-chance system rather than a direct replacement for casino-style gaming.
The immediate question is whether lawmakers will move it forward as clubs prepare for the Oct. 13 skill-game deadline. The upcoming Gaming Oversight Committee meeting could give HB1050 another opportunity to enter the conversation, as it has remained largely stalled since its introduction.
