A man's death in 2020 has been attributed to the company that created the well-known Pennsylvania Skill games that can be found at small businesses around the province.

The jury determined that defendants Pace-O-Matic (POM) and Miele Manufacturing, the software developer and gaming manufacturer/route distributor behind the purportedly skill-based gaming machines, were negligent parties to Ashokkumar Patel's murder on December 12, 2020, and on Monday, they were ordered to pay $15.3 million to the estate of Patel.

After just one week of employment, 50-year-old Patel was cleaning the floor of the Craig's Food Mart, a Sunoco gas station in Hazelton, when a local drug dealer broke into the convenience store and brutally killed Patel. Paying out cash rewards to Pennsylvania Skill customers was part of Patel's hourly work at the store.

Jafet De Jesus Rodriguez was the murderer and fled with only $14,000 in cash, as prosecutors later demonstrated in court.  Later on, Rodriguez acknowledged that he had lost thousands of dollars while participating in the Pennsylvania Skill games.

POM, Miele Liable Parties Rodriguez was given a life sentence without the chance of release in July after being convicted guilty of first-degree murder, robbery, and theft.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Patel's relatives against Sunoco and the owner was resolved out of court.  In retrospect, POM and Miele made the potentially expensive option to defend their activities in court.

The Philadelphia County jury concurred with the plaintiffs' lawyers that POM and Miele's unregulated slot-type gambling gadgets put workers like Patel in dangerous situations.

"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. 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,” said Patel estate attorney Robert Zimmerman of the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky law firm.

Pennsylvania's skill games, such as the Pennsylvania Skill title, resemble slot machines found in the state's seventeen physical casinos in terms of appearance, sound, and functionality.  By finding winning paylines, the player can, however, significantly change their reward rate.  Wins on a casino slot machine are automatically credited.

The unlicensed skill games are opposed by the state casino sector, which is heavily taxed and controlled, on the grounds that they steal play from their establishments.  Opponents of skill games also voice worries about consumer protections because the machines are rarely checked for fair play, frequently have minimal or no safeguards for responsible gambling, and are more accessible to minors than casinos.

Skill games have created dangerous environments at local corner stores, according to the Philadelphia City Council and other local governments. 

Appeal Coming Mielie and POM released a statement denouncing the jury's conclusions.

The corporations' lawyers declared, "We will appeal and win."

Ashokkumar Patel's passing is sad, and his family is grieving greatly.  Regarding the litigation brought by Mr. Patel's estate, we will keep arguing that Pace-O-Matic has nothing to do with the criminal activity," the statement went on.