State takes aim at illegal 'coin pusher' machines (2024)

Some Arizona businesses looking for extra profits have foundthemselves on the wrong side of state gaming laws.

And their customers hoping for a win may have been cheated toboot.

The Arizona Department of Gaming has seized dozens of “coinpusher” machines located in bars, convenience stores and otherstops. Mark Brnovich said while the ones confiscated so far are inMaricopa County, there is evidence the devices are in shopsthroughout the state.

And they are there illegally.

The names of the shop owners were not released. Brnovich said itis possible they were duped.

“What we think is happening is someone is basically going aroundand pitching these to store owners, convenience store owners, barowners, small shops, telling them there’s no problem, they’relegal,” he said. “The store owners are taking the person’s word onit and installing them and using them to make a profit.”

That, said Brnovich, is not true.

He said state law does allow for amusem*nt devices, even thosewhere people can — but are not guaranteed to — win something.Brnovich called that the Chuck E. Cheese exception, referring tothe chain of pizza outlets that caters to families with variousgames that let customers win small prizes.

But Brnovich said this is quite different from putting a quarterin a machine in hopes of clawing a stuffed animal.

These machines operate by a coin starting a “pusher” whichshoves the coins in the machine, including the one just inserted.At some theoretical point, the new coin adds just enough so that avolley of coins at the front end fall into a hopper to be retrievedby the player.

Brnovich said state law makes any machine which awards cashillegal. And he said merchandise prizes can’t be worth more than$4.

Beyond that, Brnovich said state law makes the setting of amachine crucial to the question of its legality.

He said a device set up in an “amusem*nt setting,” like a pizzaparlor for families, has prizes “that are not offered to lure orseparate players from their money.” That, said Brnovich, isdifferent from something set up at a bar.

In any event, though, the fact that the pushers offer cash makethem off limits no matter where they are located.

Brnovich said that, in the case of many of the machines, it’snot even like the customers got a fair shake.

“It appears that these devices were not only illegal, but thatmany patrons didn’t even have a chance to win the prizes that wereoffered,” he said.

The Attorney General’s Office said that the machines actuallycheat customers because they have hidden compartments: Some of thecoins that fall into the bin never make it to the customer butinstead remain in the machine.

“These devices are a fraud on the public,” Attorney GeneralTerry Goddard said in a prepared statement. “They are builtcleverly to deceive the player into thinking that coins or othervaluables are about to fall into the collection bin as winnings,but players can’t see how they really work.”

State takes aim at illegal 'coin pusher' machines (2024)

FAQs

In what states are coin pushers legal? ›

Are Coin Pushers Legal in Certain States? Coin pushers are now considered illegal in casinos in the vast majority of areas. In Minnesota and Illinois, it is legal for a casino to have a coin pusher, but it has to be licensed by the Department of Revenue.

Are coin pushers illegal in Texas? ›

Fees cannot be refunded after a license or certificate is issued. Nov. 30. The coin-operated machine law does not authorize or permit the possession, operation or display of a machine prohibited by the Texas Constitution or Penal Code.

Why are coin pusher machines illegal? ›

Under South Dakota law, a quarter pusher machine is illegal since: (1) something of value is staked with a coin-operated machine; (2) something of value is won or lost by the operation of such machine; and (3) whether a thing of value is won or lost is dependent predominantly on chance.

Do any casinos still have coin pushers? ›

Variations of the machine can still be found in some arcades; rather than coins being returned, you get tickets that can be exchanged for prizes. But we haven't seen a Flip-It machine in a Nevada casino in nearly two decades. Most of the old quarter-pushers have migrated to cruise-ship casinos.

Do Indian casinos have coin pushers? ›

Indian Gaming > Illegal coin pushers showing up at locations throughout California. Illegal "coin pushers" are showing up throughout California, The Valley Voice Newspaper reports.

Are coin pushers legal in Oklahoma? ›

So-called “coin-pusher” machines are considered illegal gaming devices under Oklahoma law, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Are coin pushers legal in PA? ›

These machines attempt to mask illegal gambling by incorporating a required interaction and/or a difficult, laborious and low- reward secondary game. However, these machines are gambling devices and are illegal in Pennsylvania.

Are coin pushers legal in Michigan? ›

Not only are they illegal, but, the gambling board said, there's no way to know if you are getting ripped off, and if you are, the control board can't investigate. And even if they aren't cheating you, they are cheating the state because they aren't paying taxes.

Are coin pushers rigged? ›

Thanks to a few minutes of Internet research, I was able to debunk Piyus' claim that coin pushers are rigged with magnets, owing to the fact that American coins no longer contain enough nickel to make them reactive!

Are quarter pushers legal in Tennessee? ›

The "Quarter Pusher" machine is clearly a violation of the statute.

Do cruise ships have coin pushers? ›

Every traditional game is available on a cruise (craps, roulette, blackjack, etc.), but also some unusual games like the coin-pusher machines.

Does Dave and Busters have coin pushers? ›

Players can skillfully direct the coins with the multi-directional automatic coin ramp; allowing the player to strategically place coins on the playfield to push cards, coins and game chips over the ledge for ticket redemption.

Are coin pushers legal in South Carolina? ›

Summary: Every person who maintains or permits the use of a machine or device, operated by coin or thing of value, for the purpose of amusem*nt must apply for and procure a license every two years.

Does the Seminole Hard Rock have coin pushers? ›

The casino is okay but nothing out of the ordinary. Plenty of slot machines for the coin pushers.

Where is the Elvis coin pusher in Ohio? ›

Elvis coin pusher arcade game at the Cedar Point arcade in Sandusky, Ohio. Oh wow I remember this arcade area. Cedar Point is the best! Holy smokes, that's a new one (to me)!

Are there coin pushers in California? ›

As an additional example, a coin pusher is an illegal gambling device, whether or not it purports to have an element of skill, because the player can win coins by playing. California Tribal Casinos are permitted to operate slot machines pursuant to the terms of approved Tribal-State Compacts and California law.

Are coin pushers legal in New Mexico? ›

Such activity is strictly prohibited and not authorized, approved or sanctioned in any manner by New Mexico regulatory authorities.

Are coin pushers legal in New York? ›

These games have paddles that push the coins closer to the shelf. I know these games are legal in children's arcades but, as NYC doesn't allow gambling, they are not legal in adult casino type settings.

Are Pennsylvania skill machines legal? ›

Gov. Tom Wolf's office declared in 2020: “The administration believes Pennsylvania must take a hard line on illegal gambling, including so-called 'games of skill' and other slot machines. These machines are illegal, unregulated and put senior programs at risk by siphoning revenue from the Lottery.”

Are there any coin pushers in Colorado? ›

In other words, coin pushers are not generally legal in Colorado unless a license is granted (which generally does not occur for most convenience stores). Note, the presence of a pusher in a store does not necessarily mean that they are legal.

Where is coin pusher located? ›

Arcades are where you're most likely to see a coin pusher game. Again, older and less busy arcades where they still have traditional games are the best options. Some games also now feature tickets instead of coins, which means you must also look out for this type of game. You might also see one at a carnival or fair.

Why are casinos illegal in Tennessee? ›

Compared to the evolution of other jurisdictions around the country, Tennessee's gambling industry is still in its infancy. Concerns about responsible gambling have limited the legal gambling industry in the state for quite some time now. Indeed, that's why there are still no brick-and-mortar casinos in Tennessee.

Are straight pipes illegal in Tennessee? ›

Code § 55-9-202. Section 55-9-202 - Mufflers - Muffler cutouts prohibited - Penalty (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any road, street or highway unless the motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.

Why is there no casinos in Tennessee? ›

Many of the states surrounding Tennessee have already legalized casinos. However, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is staunchly opposed to gambling, referring to casinos as the “most harmful form of gambling.” That means for now, Tennesseans must flock to other states if they want to scratch their gambling itch.

What are the odds of coin pushers? ›

Manufacturers typically recommend a payout of 70%. Too low would cause people to stop playing, and too high would cause the owner to lose money. What 70% means is that for every 25 cents you put in, the probability of getting another quarter is 0.70*25 = 17.5 cents.

Is there human trafficking on cruise ships? ›

Human trafficking may also occur in cruising, and cruise ship crime is common. Ship workers, who are notoriously paid low wages, are even paid off by people who can withhold their pay or pay workers less than they expect to receive in order to force them to commit crimes.

Are their police on cruise ships? ›

Major cruise lines have sophisticated security departments run by former federal, state and military law enforcement officials and are staffed by competent, qualified security personnel.

Does Circus Circus have coin pushers? ›

You've hit the jackpot! Circus Circus has the latest slot, video and electronic table games, from $. 01 to $25 machines, in three casinos: Main, West and Slots A Fun. Don't miss our coin operated slot machines in the main casino.

How do the coin pushers at casino work? ›

You insert a coin, which drops onto one of the trays, and if you're lucky it'll get pushed into the stack of coins, causing one or more to spill over the edge and be returned to you. The game takes quarters, dollars, or tokens, depending on the flavor of the machine.

Does circus circus have coin pusher machines? ›

Calling it “one of the last standing remnants of vintage Vegas,” Circus Circus says it has added $5 coin slot machines to its casino floor. The coin-operated machines feature 97.4% payback, according to the release. Copyright 2022 KVVU.

Is game machine legal in North Carolina? ›

It is illegal to operate any slot machine or device where the user may become entitled to receive any money, credit, allowance, or any thing of value. A slot machine is a device where players insert coins, slugs, or tokens and the game of chance may result in winning money or something of value.

What bank has a coin dispenser? ›

Chase Bank happens to have rather generous policies for non-customers, who can exchange up to $200 in coins as long as they're in coin wrappers. If you've got more than $200 in coins, there's a simple trick: just visit multiple Chase branches. Did you know? It costs more than a penny to produce a penny.

Are coin pushers legal in Pennsylvania? ›

These machines attempt to mask illegal gambling by incorporating a required interaction and/or a difficult, laborious and low- reward secondary game. However, these machines are gambling devices and are illegal in Pennsylvania.

Are coin pushers legal in Georgia? ›

Coin operated amusem*nt machines represent one of the few legal gambling options in Georgia.

Will banks count your coins for free? ›

Take your coins to a community bank or credit union

Many big banks have phased out their coin-counting services in recent years, but the regional banks or credit unions that do offer coin exchange likely do so at no cost to customers. There may be a small fee for noncustomers to use the bank's coin-counting services.

Does Walmart have a coin-counting machine? ›

Is there a coin-counting machine at Walmart? Yes. Coinstar machines can be found at the vast majority of Walmart locations across the country.

Where can I convert coins to cash? ›

Here are five places where you can access free coin counting and exchange services: QuikTrip. Bank of America.
...
  1. QuikTrip. QuikTrip owns a line of gas stations across 11 states, with 800 locations in total. ...
  2. Bank of America. ...
  3. Wells Fargo. ...
  4. US Bank. ...
  5. Credit Unions.
Sep 13, 2022

Are coin pushers legal in Kentucky? ›

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, sees no gray area in Kentucky law that would allow for these games. “These machines are illegal,” Thayer said at a November legislative hearing.

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