Slot Ownership in YOUR state

[Yoeddy1]

Just curious.  Not legal in Idaho, I can tell you that.

[Brianzz]

My favorite joke of all time:

What is the difference between unlawful and illegal?

illegal is a sick bird <rimshot> 

I heard that joke on Saturday Nights Main Event when I was like 8 told by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and I still remember it.. it was just that stupid.

Another stupid favorite joke of mine:

Walk up to one of the more intelligent people (works on stupid people too) you know and say "You're a pretty well traveled person, book smart and everything. You know Louisville, the capital of Kentucky, do you pronounce it Louis-ville or Louieville?" After they tell you the answer you can just look at them and say "Oh really? I've always pronounced it Frankfort" 

[reho33]

Well in PA a person will do more jail time for owning a slot machine as opposed to smoking pot See 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5513(a)(1) and  you'll do 30 days and $500 fine for dope????? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!!!!!!!!!!! maybe I should play my slot , holding a .357 magnum, and smoking medical marijuana and invite the sheriff in for a talk!

[dale]

This is what I love about Utah. Home slot ownership and my concealed weapons permit!

[jay]

Utah .... Just don't get caught carrying a 1/5th of Rum..... they will lock you up for 20 years


I was in PA which has a 1940 or earlier law... I am still not sure if what I had was Illegal.

I first bought a couple of Pachislos - one at Sams and the other at Costco.
They used tokens and were technically skill stops.
What defined these as legal sales ? was it the skill aspect or the fact that they only took tokens ..... or the fact they didn't pay out cash ??
I would bet on the latter./

I later purchased some IGT S+'s but I converted these to run off of tokens. SO... even though they had a bill validator they were the same as a pin ball machine with a bill validator which is also stricktly for entertainment value.....  So were they still illegal...

Sure I could convert them back to pay out in coins but I could have done the same with the Pachislos - lots of documented mods out there and/or I could simply put a value on my tokens and run a redemption center.......

Now I am in Canada and they allow ownership as long as its not used for gambling......

[reho33]

Well I've never heard of a prosecution under PA 5513 ( or any state for that matter) I think that law enforcement is more concerned with machines in bars and clubs where gambling could be a problem. Look if other states like Nevada and Rhode Island have no problems with it, then the rest of the states should not either. I really don't see what age of the machine has to do with it either. I can use a Jennings sun chief for illegal gambling as much as an s+ and the result would be the same. But it just goes to show you that the law can be wacky in many ways. But pot smoking is a more serious offense than slot play????? Like I said, what the heck is that?
       Even when Charles Fey invented the first Liberty Bell, people have been terrified of a box with 3 spinning wheels in it. I really don't get why people are so scared of such a thing................

[rickhunter]

In florida it's 20 years.  Pachislots are legal, but ANY slot machine younger than 20 years or PARTS THEREOF are illegal.  So in 2010, the first S+ slots were made, that means that year 1990 slots will be legal next year, but the exact same slot model made 1 year later will still be illegal.  The models with the imbedded DBV's were released in 1993, so in 2013, those will be legal.  Mine will be legal in 2015, and my wms video slot in 2021.   

[reho33]

Remember that whole debacle in SC where they had Video poker throughout the whole state and then in one fell swoop, gone. If I had known, I would have played on my way to and from FL.............

[bunnyslots]

In Illinois its 25 years but I think if you pull the hoppers or tokenize the machines you might be ok.
With the new video poker law things might be changing

[dale]

About two weeks ago in the Paradise Post, a newspaper in Paradise, California ran an article about a guy in Magalia, California that was arrested for drugs and in searching his home found a working, money accepting slot machine. He was also charged with possession of a slot machine.

California sucks. You can't do or have anything there that would hurt some politically correct groups feelings.

[rdaniel]

If that slot machine was at least 25 years old then it was legal and the cops had no right to confiscate it.

What is the difference between a 25 year old machine and a 10 year old machine? They may work differently but the results are the same. Just goes to show you how stupid the state laws are!

[reho33]

I am not a lawyer but if a police officer ever took my slot(s) I would ask for a property recipt because if your found not guilty, the slot has to be returned according to the law.
The wording is here (excerpt from NY Penal 225.32, defenses):

2. Where  a  defendant  raises  an  affirmative  defense  provided  by
  subdivision one hereof, any slot machine seized from the defendant shall
  not be destroyed, or otherwise altered until a final court determination
  is  rendered.  In  a final court determination rendered in favor of said
  defendant, such slot machine  shall  be  returned,  forthwith,  to  said
  defendant, notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary.

[OhioGaming]

An article from Albuquerque Journal

Friday, July 29, 2005

Slots Allowed in Homes, but Gaming Isn't

By Deborah Baker
The Associated Press
    SANTA FE— Slot machines may be legal in your living room, but state regulators don't expect them to become the next home fashion fad. The state Court of Appeals this week ruled that the Gaming Control Board lacked the authority to seize 10 slot machines from an Alamogordo home in 1999.

    The reasoning: There was no illegal gambling going on. Under New Mexico law, it's not a "game" if it's played in a private home and the only money is made through winnings— in other words, the machine owner isn't profiting from the operation of the slots. If it's not a "game," it's not a gaming machine and, therefore, not required to be licensed and, therefore, not subject to forfeiture for being an unlicensed machine, the court held.

    While the ruling applies statewide, a spokeswoman for the state Gaming Control Board said it was likely to have little practical effect. Peggy Hardwick, senior staff counsel to the board, said slot machines— in addition to being expensive— are difficult to come by. Licensed dealers don't sell them to individuals, she said. And even if vendors wanted to, Hardwick said she wasn't sure of the legality of such sales— or whether the board might be able to enact rules prohibiting them.

    "The court did go out of its way to say we could continue to seize machines outside of private residences," Hardwick said— from truck stops, for example, where illegal machines occasionally turn up. The court said that slot machines that are not in private residences are presumed to be gaming machines— and, therefore, subject to seizure by the state.

    Hardwick said the Court of Appeals opinion, which upheld a ruling by a state District Court in Otero County, was not a surprise. "The Court of Appeals has told us our interpretation is wrong, so now we'll adjust our regulatory model accordingly," Hardwick said. The board had argued that any machine that could be used for gambling qualifies as a gaming machine and comes under its jurisdiction.

    The lawyer for the machines' three owners, Richard Hawthorne of Ruidoso, called the seizure and forfeiture action a "power play" by the board. "The gaming board thinks they have ... control over anything that looks, smells or tastes like a game in New Mexico," he said. The machines were returned to the owners a couple of years ago— while the appeal was pending— by order of the state district judge, the lawyer said.

[whinkle]

I'm in a 25-year or older state and I had 2 cops search my house because my kids had thought someone had broken in.  End result... they never even mentioned the machines (and the kids have an overactive imagination) 

[FOXSSLOTS1]

to avoid anymore confusion - use the universal authority on legal slot machines - yes - FLEABAY - their rule of standing on one leg - rub your belly one way  and your forehead another - will make the legality of slot machines crystal clear.

[StatFreak]

to avoid anymore confusion - use the universal authority on legal slot machines - yes - FLEABAY - their rule of standing on one leg - rub your belly one way  and your forehead another - will make the legality of slot machines crystal clear.

Don't forget that you also have to hop up and down while holding one hand over the denomination sticker (impossible while rubbing your belly and forehead) and hiding the dbv behind your butt (almost impossible while hopping on one foot), and then they'll still pull your listing at any arbitrary moment because the fleapay policeman had a bad hair day -- unless you're Navinut, in which case they'll just leave you alone.

Oh, wait. This isn't the rants & raves board. Pardon me. Ignore everything you just read.

[jdkmunch]

Slots don't gamble.  People do.

[jdkmunch]

I am not a lawyer but if a police officer ever took my slot(s) I would ask for a property recipt because if your found not guilty, the slot has to be returned according to the law.
The wording is here (excerpt from NY Penal 225.32, defenses):

2. Where  a  defendant  raises  an  affirmative  defense  provided  by
  subdivision one hereof, any slot machine seized from the defendant shall
  not be destroyed, or otherwise altered until a final court determination
  is  rendered.  In  a final court determination rendered in favor of said
  defendant, such slot machine  shall  be  returned,  forthwith,  to  said
  defendant, notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary.

I think Stat in another thread quoted that in NY the law is plain and simple ownership of a slot machine is illegal.    But so is using prostitutes on the tax payers dime -   and that didn't stop Spitzer.

 

[Op-Bell]

What is the difference between a 25 year old machine and a 10 year old machine? They may work differently but the results are the same. Just goes to show you how stupid the state laws are!

Here's a little bit of history. It's not slot machines as such that are the problem, it's gambling, and this goes way back to the temperance movements of the 19th century. Coin-in-the-slot gambling machines were widespread as far back as 1870, and there were laws against them way back then. The battle between temperance reformers and everyone else went round and round for years, with legislators passing laws that were overturned by the courts time and time again. The cities and states were taking tax revenues from the machines even when they were supposedly illegal, not to mention the armies of police and city officials living high off bribes to look the other way. Eventually the temperance movement succeeded in getting the 19th Amendment passed ("prohibition"), which as we all know in hindsight was the best damn thing that ever happened from the point of view of the gambling business, as there were now protected places that the police and politicians wouldn't touch where slots could operate freely. By the time prohibition was repealed we had a robust and highly profitable slot industry controlled by powerful crime families, with machines operating openly almost everywhere in the US under cover of widespread police corruption. It wasn't until about 1950, with the Kefauver commission and the federal Johnson act, that things were brought under control. With the Feds controlling interstate shipment, states finally began to pass and enforce laws against slots, ending up with a situation where simple possession of a slot almost anywhere became a felony. These laws were never aimed at people like us - they were designed to leave no loophole for the illegal operators - but as usual, there was "feature creep".

A lot of private individuals hid machines and held on to them in secret, which is the only reason there are still old machines around today. Some people acquired large collections, and one such was a Californian called Jerry Kenzer. One day in 1975 Kenzer must have upset someone, because the police showed up at his door and carted off his collection for destruction. Kenzer sued the state through the courts and won - here's a link to the announcement (pdf) - meanwhile sponsoring a home possession law that passed the California legislature a few months later. Kenzer's law introduced the "25 year" rule, because he had nothing in his collection later than 1950. Following that, many other states passed similar laws. Some just did it on a simple petition, and some after a hard-fought court action. Many just adopted the same 25 year wording of the California act, without necessarily understanding why. Some set a hard date, some set no age limit. What's interesting is that if your state allows you to own machines, it's almost certainly because people like you and me got together to lobby for the right - these laws don't just pass themselves. It takes a little effort, but activism does work. You've gotta fight for the right to party.

I note in passing that those states that have never passed a home possession law tend to be places that had the worst problems with organized crime and corruption in the past.

[reho33]

Good for those poeple!! When I bought my slot (from a dealer in PA) I asked him straight out if anyone he sold to got busted. He said that none that he sold but that some private individual got busted, case went to court, etc.The judge immediately ordered the machines returned to the defendant, without delay. The DA and the arresting PO's protested, but the judge admonished them for even wasting his time with such a debacle. But then he turned to the defendant and said "If I hear about any illegal gambling going on in Bucks county with you, I will bust your ass". Machines were returned and all was well. The machines didn't even meet the 1941 requirement. The key is gambling, like OpBell said. Knives can be used as "murder devices" A PO cannot arrest you just because you have a knife......you could be using it to slice bread. Stick that knife into a human.......and well your done. So states should just stick to enforcement of vice and gambling laws and stop with the petty and wasteful harrassment of individual owners who are just having fun in their own homes. Legal precedent helps in cases like these. My advice, stay home and smoke pot (just kidding).
       Besides, I have a DOJ certificate.....I would urge anyone who has a slot or pachislo to get one, they cover individuals that are not dealing just using (ha ha) and it's free. It might just save your ass..........
       They asked the Hells Angels once why they carried ball-peen hammers. Their reply "Well you know these Harleys, they need a tap or two once in a while to start" (!??!!!)

[jaeckleint]

Slightly off subject... But I am curious if anybody has any Ideas or facts on this question?  I know someone that lives in Maryland. A 25 year state that up until this year was a slot free state. This year they passed a slot referendum and we are now a slot state with slots going into race tracks and other places soon. Do you think this will have any effect on the 25 year current ownership law

[enforcer]

Compared to all states, I think Connecticut is amongst the worst - at least insofar as the written law.  Old, new, doesn't matter - don't even look at one; tokenized, pachislo - they are all verboten.  CT has got to preserve the monopoly for the Indians from which the State takes its nice cut.....see, if you have a few in your house for personal use, you just may cut into the local casino's action...

[reho33]

Yep, in CT, a peace, police, or official of the State can seize on sight. All they have to do is see it and you are cooked and booked. Like I said in another post (see Rants and Raves) everyone who likes their games should write their Congressman, Senator, or other Local Officials and ask that legislation be introduced that would change the law. If enough people do that, it could happen. The 17 slot free states have no problem with it. Just enforce the existing gambling laws and it could work. In my state, I think that I will do that or get a petition going. I feel strongly about this. America needs to get into the 21st century about this stuff, come on. CA has medical marijuana for Christ's sake. You can get busted for your game but not for your pot?????????? I am not hurting anyone, I am not gambling, just enjoying a game........

[rickhunter]

Slightly off subject... But I am curious if anybody has any Ideas or facts on this question?  I know someone that lives in Maryland. A 25 year state that up until this year was a slot free state. This year they passed a slot referendum and we are now a slot state with slots going into race tracks and other places soon. Do you think this will have any effect on the 25 year current ownership law

No, one has nothing to do with the other.  In Floriduh, slots are now legal in existing parimutuels, but the home ownership rule has not changed. Oh well for me, only 3 more years a 1992 S+ becomes legal.  How soon before they star selling the serial # with date plates on E-bay?

What is interesting about all these homeownership slot laws, is that you see slots for sale all the time on your local craigslist, for obvious "joe the slotowner" types and nobody ever hears of people getting busted for them.  Go figure.  Most Police officers, when asked, will say that they don't even know the statue regarding slots, and if they saw one at a person's house, they wouldn't bother with it.

[rdaniel]

It just seems that big brother government treats adults like children when it comes to home ownership of slot machines. It is simply another excuse to control behavior in our own homes. Also some religious types oppose any form of gambling (even home use) and those people have lots of sway in state government.