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Compliance Updates

Pennsylvania Skill, Powered by Pace-O-Matic, Ruled a Legal Game of Skill by Another Pennsylvania Court

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Today, Pace-O-Matic announced the company won a return of property motion in York County, Pennsylvania. This property encompassing gaming machines, related equipment and cash, was wrongfully seized during raids conducted by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control and Enforcement (BLCE).

“Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania skill games are legal,” said the counsel for Pace-O-Matic, Matthew Haverstick of Kleinbard LLC. “The Commonwealth has wrongfully seized this equipment for years with no credible evidence that they are illegal. Today, the Commonwealth refused to present witnesses or make a case that the games are illegal. This issue as a matter of law is decided and the courts have ruled appropriately and consistently so.”

“Again, another Pennsylvania court has found that Pennsylvania skill games, powered by Pace-O-Matic, are legal games of predominant skill,” the Chief Public Affairs Officer for Pace-O-Matic, Mike Barley, said. “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. Pace-O-Matic stands out among our competitors as the active driving force seeking additional regulation and taxation.”

Pennsylvania skill games, powered by Pace-O-Matic, have been ruled games of predominant skill by courts in Beaver, Dauphin, Monroe and York Counties. Additionally, after a review of the law and court decisions, our games have been returned to us in both Clearfield and Delaware Counties. Just last month, we received a favorable ruling in Dauphin County declaring Pennsylvania skill games legal. The Dauphin County Court ruling also castigates the Commonwealth and BLCE for their biased conduct.

“All three of the Commonwealth witnesses opined that the games were predominantly games of chance,” wrote Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Andrew H Dowling. “However, we do not find these opinions to be persuasive for a number of reasons. Initially, it is this court’s belief that the Commonwealth’s investigation shows case bias. The Commonwealth is seeking to make all machines like the Pace-O-Matic machines into illegal gambling devices and their whole approach and intent is to shut down games regardless of the actual gameplay. The fact that Officer Wentsler never played the Follow Me feature while undercover is indicative of this. Thus, the Commonwealth as a whole is biased against the games and their approach lacks case credibility.”

Earlier this year, the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas ruled that our games are legal games of skill and alleged misconduct in the investigation and prosecution of legal skill games.

Last month, Monroe County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Harlacher Sibum 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.”

Pennsylvania Skill has pumped new life into the Commonwealth’s small businesses, fraternal and social clubs and veterans’ organizations by providing them with an entertainment product that the public enjoys. Meanwhile, research data proves skill games do not impact the revenue of casinos and the lottery, achieving record profits yearly. Pennsylvania skill games are manufactured in the Commonwealth, and over 90% of the profits stay inside the state. That is unheard of in gaming and many other industries. Pace-O-Matic is proud of its record and looks forward to continuing to benefit Pennsylvania businesses, clubs, and taxpayers now and in the future.

Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania skill products are manufactured by Miele Manufacturing in Williamsport, which has created nearly 200 direct jobs. Many of the materials used to make up the gaming machines come from companies in the Commonwealth. Additionally, Pennsylvania skill game revenue has become a lifeline to fraternal clubs and organizations across the Commonwealth including American Legions, VFWs and local fire companies.
As part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance, Pace-O-Matic employs a team of former state police officers to enforce all terms of contracts and codes of conduct. These contracted terms limit the number of machines, where they are placed in a location and have protections in place to prevent anyone underage from playing the devices.

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In 2014, the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas ruled that Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania skill games are legal as games of predominant skill. In addition, last year, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s office negotiated a settlement to return wrongfully seized Pennsylvania Skill games, related equipment and cash.

Canada

Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence

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Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence

 

Random State (“RS”), the Swedish studio behind next‑generation iLottery and multiplayer bingo content, has been granted a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The approval, effective 14 May 2025, authorises RS to offer its games and platform services to licensed operators across Ontario.

“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Adam Fonsica, Co‑Founder & COO at Random State. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it provides a launchpad for our broader North‑American expansion. We can’t wait to introduce our eInstant titles and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, together with a soon‑to‑be‑announced operator.”

The licence clears the way for RS to roll out its full product portfolio in Ontario:

Interactive eInstants – instant‑win games that re‑imagine traditional lottery mechanics with modern gameplay and rich visuals.

Multiplayer bingo – a complete suite of 90-, 75-, 80/60/40‑ and 30‑ball variants, featuring progressive jackpots, Pot Booster and real‑time chat hosting.

Turn‑key iGaming platform – advanced Player Account Management (PAM), certified RNG, gamification engine and a WYSIWYG game‑configuration tool that lets operators launch new games in minutes.

Random State expects its first Ontario go‑live in Q3 2025, delivering both eInstants and multiplayer bingo on day one.

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Compliance Updates

Missouri Officially Begins Accepting Applications for Sports Betting Licenses

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The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) has announced that it has officially begun accepting applications for sports betting license.

The Commission made the announcement following the unanimous approval of a resolution drafted Tuesday that approved the licensing process. The resolution passed after Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office reviewed it.

The licensing period opens roughly six months after Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment legalizing sports betting. The measure passed by less than half a percentage point, with a margin of less than 7500 votes.

According to the amendment, the state’s sports betting sector has to be ready to launch by Dec. 1, 2025. Operators will pay a 10% wagering tax, which will mostly go toward funding education programs throughout the state.

The delay in setting up the licensing system was largely due to the new Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. Hoskins publicly opposed sports betting when he was in the Missouri state legislature. In February, he denied the Commission’s attempt to accelerate the process.

Regulators and sportsbook operators hoped the sector would be up and running in time for the NFL season’s start in September. That won’t happen now, as licensing rules don’t take effect until Aug. 30, leaving insufficient time.

Missouri license applications have two deadlines. The deadline for the two proposed “untethered” sportsbook licenses, known as Direct Mobile Licenses, is July 15. The companies that applied will have a hearing on Aug. 13, and the successful applicants will be announced on Aug. 15.

The other retail and mobile licenses have a longer application window until Sept. 12. Although licensing rules don’t officially take effect until the end of August, the Commission opened applications at this stage to give applicants time to prepare their paperwork.

All 13 of the state’s casinos and excursion gambling boats may apply for licenses to offer sports betting, and all six of Missouri’s pro sports teams will be allowed to host retail sports betting outlets at or near their stadiums.

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Prior to the opening of license applications, the MLB team St. Louis Cardinals partnered with sportsbook bet365 to become the team’s official sports betting partner. The collaboration grants the operator access to a sports wagering license when the market opens at the end of the year.

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Canada

AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites

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AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites

 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has contacted more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, calling on them to stop promoting unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites like Bodog to Ontario residents.

Operated by Il Nido Inc., Bodog is an offshore operator actively targeting Ontarians by advertising on popular traditional and digital media platforms. Despite blocking players in Quebec and Nova Scotia from accessing their unregulated gambling and sports betting sites, Bodog continues to allow Ontarians to access these sites while advertising heavily on traditional and digital media platforms targeting Ontarians.

Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, Bodog and other online gambling sites are required to register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in order to operate in Ontario. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. Bodog’s efforts to direct Ontarians to unregulated gambling undermine player protection and other safeguards which exist in the regulated market, as well as fair market principles.

By airing ads for Bodog and other unregulated operators, legitimate media platforms are providing a veneer of legitimacy to unregulated and high-risk sites and creating confusion for Ontarians. The AGCO is therefore calling on these platforms to take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads. By doing so, broadcasters and digital media companies will help reduce the risks these sites pose to Ontarians and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s regulated igaming market – all key objectives of the AGCO.

The AGCO will continue to work with its partners – both in Ontario and internationally – to combat these unregulated sites and protect the public.

“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.”  – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.

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