Jury Awards $15M in Fatal Pace-O-Matic Case
Summary
A Philadelphia County jury has found Pace-O-Matic and manufacturing partner Miele Manufacturing civilly liable in the 2020 killing of Ashokkumar Patel and awarded his estate approximately $15.3m. Patel, a 50-year-old immigrant from India, was shot while working at a Hazelton, Pennsylvania location where he was responsible for making large cash payouts from Pace-O-Matic “skill” gambling machines.
The plaintiff’s lawyers argued the companies prioritised profit and exploited regulatory loopholes, deploying unregulated devices without the security measures common in regulated casinos. The verdict shares liability among Pace-O-Matic, Miele, the convicted shooter Jafet Rodriguez and the premises owner. Rodriguez was criminally convicted and is serving a sentence. The civil suit (Case ID: 221101639) was filed in 2022.
The ruling comes amid separate criminal allegations: Pennsylvania prosecutors charged former Pace-O-Matic national compliance director Rick Goodling in October with racketeering and related offences, alleging kickbacks and efforts to hide illegal machines from enforcement. Concern about so-called “skill” machines is widespread; a 2023 American Gaming Association survey found many people cannot distinguish them from traditional slots and worry they increase crime and risk to employees.
Key Points
- A Philadelphia jury awarded about $15.3m to the estate of Ashokkumar Patel after finding Pace-O-Matic and Miele liable in his 2020 death.
- Patel was shot while handling large cash payouts tied to Pace-O-Matic “skill” gambling machines at a Hazelton location.
- Attorneys said the companies prioritised profitability and used regulatory loopholes instead of adopting security measures standard at regulated gambling venues.
- The civil verdict also assigns responsibility to the convicted shooter and the site owner; the criminal conviction of the shooter is already in place.
- Separate criminal charges allege racketeering by a former Pace-O-Matic compliance director for accepting kickbacks and helping distributors evade scrutiny.
- Industry concerns persist: surveys show the public often cannot tell “skill” machines from slots and fears about crime and employee safety remain high.
Context and relevance
This verdict highlights growing legal and regulatory scrutiny of unregulated “skill” gambling devices that operate in non-casino locations. It may influence future enforcement, civil liability claims and how businesses deploy such machines. For operators, regulators and venue owners, the case signals increased risk if security and worker safety are neglected.
Author’s note
Punchy: This isn’t just another damages award — it’s a major signal to an industry that has been skirting regulation. If you work with or around these devices, pay attention: changes to compliance, venue security and litigation exposure are likely to follow.
Why should I read this
Quick take: a jury just said the makers of those shady “skill” machines messed up big time — and someone died. If you care about gambling regulation, worker safety, or where the industry might be headed legally, this is worth two minutes of your time. It shows real-world consequences when profit beats proper safety and compliance.
Source
Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/jury-awards-15m-in-fatal-pace-o-matic-case/
