Latest articles
Pennsylvania AG Petitions Supreme Court for Skill Games Appeal
Pennsylvania Attorney General (AG) Michelle Henry has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear an appeal of lower court decisions that ruled skill gaming machines are not illegal gambling. In the petition filed on Jan. 2, the Attorney General argues that the ruling of the Commonwealth Court contradicts existing precedent. Specifically, the petition holds that […]
Pennsylvania Skill Gaming Machines Aren’t Gambling Devices, Says Appellate Court Judge
In a unanimous decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that machines manufactured by Pace-O-Matic (POM) are skill games, not illegal slot machines. The decision marks the second major victory for the manufacturer in the state this year. The verdict upholds a county judge’s decision in February, which likewise deemed the machines to be games […]
AviaGames Faces Federal Prosecution in Bot Scandal, Wins Brief Delay in Patent Case
Real-money skill gaming company AviaGames faces indictment by federal prosecutors in New Jersey over its suspected use of bots to defraud its human players. Information about the alleged activities came to light during pretrial discovery in a patent lawsuit by Avia’s rival, Skillz. The judge in that case has granted AviaGames a temporary reprieve in light of the […]
AviaGames Accused of Using Bots Against Players in Skill Games Case
A proposed class action lawsuit against AviaGames accuses the company of using bots against human players on its purportedly peer-to-peer skill-based games. The accusation arises from claims made during the discovery phase of a separate patent lawsuit against AviaGames by its rival, Skillz. This new action on behalf of AviaGames’ customers argues that such use […]
FanDuel Faceoff Skill Game Platform Is Growing, Adds NBA-Themed Swish Showdown
FanDuel Faceoff is adding a new sports-themed game, Swish Showdown. Inspired by the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest, the game allows users to test their thumb and finger abilities by shooting 3-pointers against the clock. They can play free just for fun, or like other FanDuel Faceoff games, players can put their skills to the test, […]
Skillz Accuses AviaGames of Using Bots to Cheat Users Amid Patent Lawsuit
Online skill gaming company Skillz has accused its rival AviaGames of using “bots” to cheat players on its Pocket7Games platform. The allegations came out during the pre-trial phase of a patent lawsuit. Skillz says it learned about the bots just before the discovery period for the case closed. In August, it successfully petitioned the judge for more time to […]
Pennsylvania Skill Games Bill: Machines Are Illegal, Not ‘Unsanctioned Gambling Devices’
A Pennsylvania skill games bill seeks to label the devices found in bars and gas stations illegal, rather than their current title of “unsanctioned gambling devices.” On Oct. 31, state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti and Rep. Mark Rozzi revealed their plans in a press release. Cappelletti, D-Delaware, and Rozzi, D-Berks, want to erase the gray area the slots-style […]
Virginia Supreme Court Deems Skill Games Illegal as Similar Battles Play Out Across the US
The Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a lower court’s decision to allow skill game machines to remain in small businesses while a lawsuit to decide the machines’ legality works its way through the justice system. Virginia banned the machines in 2020, but former Gov. Ralph Northam delayed its implementation for a year to allow revenue […]
Four Years of Venture Investments From Drive By DraftKings: Skill Games, Health & More
Four years after its launch, Drive By DraftKings continues to grow. According to its website, the multi-stage venture capital firm primarily invests in sports tech and entertainment companies. In addition to DraftKings Casino, its namesake gaming company, Drive’s founding partners include: Accomplice Boston Seed Capital General Catalyst All three venture companies specialize in startups and […]
AGA Suggests Majority of Players See ‘Skill’ Machines as More Luck-Based Than Chutes & Ladders
A recent report by the American Gaming Association (AGA) suggests that 65% of Americans familiar with skill-game machines believe the devices are games of chance, like slots. The report also points out that, unlike slots, skill-based machines are not regulated and taxed because they exist in a legal gray area. However, there seems to be […]
