BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) — Following a unanimous vote Monday evening, games of skill are now banned in Bensalem, Bucks County, with a few exceptions.

At a city council meeting, Public Safety Director William McVey, at the mayor’s request due to public complaints, said his department had been studying the issue for two years.

In 2023, it is estimated that there will have been 100 games of skill in businesses in the canton. This number increased to 170 in 2024, according to police.

Games can be found in businesses like delis, restaurants, bars and convenience stores.

Police said unregulated gaming threatens quality of life and public safety in Bensalem, pointing to robberies, thefts and even drug use linked to skill games.

“We’ve seen a proliferation of these machines and all types of businesses and we’ve also seen the welcoming of criminal elements,” McVey said.

There are exceptions to the new rule for businesses and clubs with active state-issued liquor licenses. However, they will now have to monitor play areas by video surveillance and place them in areas visible to employees and not accessible to children.

Bensalem’s attorney said the guidelines are designed to reflect a proposal currently in the state Senate, Senate Bill 1142.

In response to Bensalem’s new ordinance, Mike Barley – a spokesperson for PA Skill – released the following statement to Action News:

“Pennsylvania Skill is alarmed that Bensalem Township supervisors would pass a measure that would harm small, family-owned businesses and fraternal clubs that benefit from additional revenue from skill games.

We take seriously the well-being of the communities where our games are located and agree that the number of illegal slot machines appearing in communities across the state is a problem. A ban including legal skill games, however, is not the solution. This only jeopardizes the livelihoods of small businesses and fraternal groups already struggling due to inflation and other economic problems.

We stand for what Governor Josh Shapiro supports: skill gaming regulations and tax legislation that will rid neighborhoods of illegal slot machines, especially mini-casinos, without harming law-abiding business owners. The legislation would also provide tax revenue that the state could use for priorities such as transportation and mass transit.

Considering that the council is basing its order on a piece of legislation authored by the Senate, Senate Bill 1142, that tells us everything we need to know about who is behind this effort. This is to protect an internationally owned casino. We urge Bensalem Township. prioritize their local businesses and fraternal clubs and not Parx Casino.

“My response to that is that we are doing this based on the public safety needs of the town of Bensalem, based on the data we have. I have seen a 40% increase in these machines in our town in one year “,” McVey responded.

Anthony Ricciardi owns the Ricciardi Mini Mart and Sunoco gas station in town with his family and six employees. He owns four skill game machines which he will now have to get rid of because his business does not fit into any of the exceptions.

He says he hasn’t had any problems with violence or crime and considers the new ordinance a big blow to his small business.

“As a small family-owned convenience store, we operate on small margins, tight margins on our products, so it’s just one of those extra things that helps us with bills and payroll,” Ricciardi said.

He sparred with city leaders defending his business Monday night, but leaders, including the Bucks County prosecutor, said the move was necessary.

“We hear it all the time: Victims of violent crime always say, ‘I didn’t think this would happen to me until it happened.’ And even if he believes his establishment is safe, we know that criminals target these facilities, these establishments because they know they are unregulated,” said Bucks County Prosecutor Jennifer Schorn.

This order takes effect in 10 days. During this time, the city will work to notify businesses that it is aware would be affected.

The city also said it would not seize the machines, but fines and penalties could be imposed for non-compliance.

The City of Philadelphia took similar steps earlier this year citing similar reasons of crime and violence linked to skill games.