Video gambling terminals at gas stations to close due to mitigation orders

A day after casinos across the state announced they were closing to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s covid-19 mitigation efforts, officials announced video gambling terminals at truck stops are also shuttering.

The terminals, which are similar to slot machines at a casino, are located at 40 truck stops across the state, including areas in Butler and Cambria counties.

The shutdown starts Saturday and runs to 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4.

Wolf announced the new orders Thursday, closing indoor dining, gyms, school sports and entertainment venues. The orders also cap indoor gatherings at 10 people and outdoor gatherings at 50 people. All other in-person businesses must operate at 50% of normal capacity.

The state’s 12 casinos were included among entertainment venues, meaning that Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, located on the city’s North Shore, the recently opened Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall, Lady Luck Nemacolin in Fayette County and Meadows Casino and Racetrack in Washington County are shuttered.

Online gambling, sports wagering and fantasy contests are not impacted by the closures.

An October report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board showed that total gambling revenues for the month were largely carried by iGaming slots and table games, video game terminals and sports betting as casinos work to rebound after being forced to shutter this spring due to the pandemic.

Here is a list of regional truck stops that have video gambling terminals impacted by a closure:

• Butler County: Kwik-Fill — 5574 Route 8, Harrisville, 16038

• Cambria County: Keystone Restaurant & Truck Stop — 190 Keystone Rd., Loretto, 15940

• Jefferson County: Travel Centers of America — 245 Allegheny Blvd., Brookville, 15825

• Venango County: Emlenton Truck Plaza — 6446 Emlenton-Clinton Rd., Emlenton, 16373