Shapiro discusses skill games, flood relief in Canonsburg

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Gov. Josh Shapiro greets Democratic Candidate Rebecca MacTaggart during a campaign event in Canonsburg. [Conner Goetz]

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Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome poses for a photo with Gov. Josh Shapiro during a campaign visit to Chicco Baccello. [Conner Goetz]

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Gov. Josh Shapiro greets Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi during a campaign event in Canonsburg. [Conner Goetz]

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Gov. Josh Shapiro has signaled his support for the regulation and taxation of skill game terminals in Pennsylvania, which became illegal last week following a state Supreme Court decision that said the devices were a form of unregulated casino gaming.

In a visit to Canonsburg Saturday, Shapiro said, “Unfortunately, the Republicans who run the Senate have refused to bring the bill up for a vote,” Shapiro said. “As of now, these games are illegal, and the Pennsylvania State Police is working with the companies and working with the venues to now enforce the court’s order.”

Shapiro said that while he is generally in favor of regulating and taxing the terminals, he would need to closely review the details of any relevant bill that lands on his desk from the state legislature before offering his signature.

Owners of taverns, bars, social clubs and other locations where the devices have been located say the loss of the devices will hurt their bottom line.

The governor briefly visited Chicco Baccello in downtown Canonsburg Saturday afternoon between larger events in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties where he campaigned for local Democratic candidates and his own reelection bid.

Shapiro also addressed local concerns following four flash floods that inundated the region in August and September.

Dozens of households and businesses suffered severe damages, with many communities still on the road to recovery.

“We’ve invested through (the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency) in multiple counties on some of the stream buffer cleanup, in addition to working with local counties to make recommendations on things they can do to have flood mitigation plans in place and take concrete steps,” he said, “and we’ve funded a number of them across Pennsylvania.”

Shapiro lost Washington County to Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano by about 2,000 votes, or 2% of the county total during the 2022 general election, and said that he wants to move the county into his column in this election cycle.