Pace-O-Matic, an unregulated gambling company operating in the “skill” gambling industry, and manufacturing partner Miele Manufacturing have been found negligent parties by a Philadelphia County jury in the murder of Ashokkumar Patel. The jury awarded $15.3 million to Patel’s estate. Patel, who was shot and killed on December 12, 2020 while mopping the floor, was a 50-year-old immigrant from India who was responsible for making large cash payouts to people placing bets on the unregulated “skill” game machines at one of Pace-O-Matic’s “Pennsylvania Skill” locations in Hazelton, Pennsylvania.
“Pace-O-Matic created a staggering enterprise in Pennsylvania, and was entirely focused on increasing its bottom line rather than protecting vulnerable, low-wage workers who had to make large payouts without any security measures to protect them from foreseeable risks,” said Robert W. Zimmerman, of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky who tried the case with his colleague John Lang. “On behalf of the Patel family, we hope Pace-O-Matic listens to the jury’s clear verdict that placing profits over safety can and does lead to dangerous consequences.”
Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, the law firm representing Patel’s estate, announced the verdict Monday night. The firm’s case centered on the companies’ distribution model: Pace-O-Matic and Miele designed and manufactured machines now operating in thousands of Pennsylvania locations, but unlike state-regulated casinos and truck stop gambling facilities—which must follow strict safety protocols—these “skill game” venues faced no comparable security requirements. Attorneys argued the companies prioritized profit-enhancing regulations for their machines while neglecting basic safety measures that might have prevented the robbery.
The civil verdict follows criminal charges filed earlier this year against Ricky Goodling, who served as the Georgia-based company’s national compliance director until 2023. Goodling was charged by Pennsylvania’s attorney general in October with racketeering and related offenses, as reported by The Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The charges, stemming from a multi-year undercover investigation by Pennsylvania State Police, allege Goodling accepted more than $500,000 in kickbacks to suppress complaints about illegal slot machines and helped distributors obtain Pace-O-Matic devices to deflect law enforcement attention.
A 2023 consumer survey by the American Gaming Association found that 65% of individuals familiar with ‘skill’ machines find them indistinguishable from slot machines, and 56% said ‘skill’ games increase the risk of crime and endanger employees and customers at businesses where the devices are located.