Lehigh Valley social clubs rally to save skill games before Pa. Supreme Court order makes them illegal

Members of several area social clubs rallied in Macungie to save the skill game machines they say are keeping the lights on and allowing them to give back to the community.

People play skill games Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

David Lausterer of Landsdale Amusement Co. talks to attendees of a rally Thursday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Daniel Lee, president of the Macungie Veterans Association, addresses attendees of a rally Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Bonnie Jeinnings, treasurer for the American Legion Post 225 in Sellersville, talks to attendees of a rally Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh, talks to attendees of a rally Thursday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Daniel Lee, president of the Macungie Veterans Association, stands at a skill game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Doug Jones, Don Keller and Craig Messinger hold up a shirt in support of skill games Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Dave Patel of Bucks County attends a rally Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Macungie. Small businesses, veterans groups, rallied at the Macungie VFW to warn they are staring at a financial crisis without skill game legislation. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that skill games are slot machines under state law, and gave lawmakers an Oct. 13 deadline to pass a bill regulating them. Failure to meet that deadline could result in a widespread law enforcement crackdown on the games. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

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Slatington Senior Community Center Manager Rachel Swedberg, left, intern Maddie Newman and Lehigh County Senior Center Services Director Ann Milne lead older adults in the the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education program Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 at the center. The wellness program focuses on the misuse of medication and offers communication skills that can help participants avoid making mistakes or not getting correct information about their meds. WISE is being rolled out in four Pennsylvania counties with the highest rates of senior drug overdoses, including Lehigh and Berks. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

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