Washington gaming panel weighs limits on 'amusement' games

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The Palace Casino in Lakewood, Washington, is among the non-Indian facilities that have added Class 12 amusement games to their lineup. Image from Google Maps

>
The Washington Gambling Commission is meeting on Thursday to consider limits on so-called "amusement" games.

The commission authorized Class 12 games last summer but some lawmakers have raised concerns. They say the devices that have been installed at non-Indian facilities look more like slot machines.

“We are committed to taking whatever legislative action necessary to pull back this expansion of gambling," the Republican and Democratic leaders in the Washington House wrote in a letter posted by The Olympian.

The agenda for the commission's meeting includes a series of proposals to limit the number of amusement games at charities and non-Indian establishments, to change the way the games are operated and to outright repeal the devices. About 430 machines were in play as of February 8.

"Licensees have purchased or leased these amusement games from manufacturers," a commission document states. "Licensees have indicated they will lose about $9 million if Group 12 amusement games are no longer authorized."

Slot machines fall in the Class III category of games, to which tribes retain exclusive rights under their compacts with the state.

Get the Story:
Washington Gambling Commission reconsiders new ‘skill’ games (The Olympian 4/13)