Modified Colorado Gaming Regulations Prohibit Expert-Oriented Gaming Devices
In Colorado, a new legislation, House Bill 1234, sponsored by Senator Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs), is causing a stir among operators of skill-gaming arcades. The bill, which is currently with Governor John Hickenlooper for approval, aims to close a loophole that allowed these arcades to operate outside of the state's three designated gambling zones: Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.
According to Trey Franzoy, who runs Charlie Chedda's arcade and internet cafe in Colorado Springs, the machines in these arcades are pattern recognition games where players have to pick the winning pattern, unlike regular casino slots which are purely based on chance. However, the new bill reclassifies a gambling machine as a device that allows the player to win "anything of value" using elements of chance and skill.
Senator Daniel Kagan (D-Cherry Hills Village) agrees that the measure goes too far, questioning if winning a Teddy bear at a county fair would now constitute illegal gambling. Some people share this concern, fearing that the new bill may be overly broad.
Senator Bob Gardner has stated that anyone with a "beef" about the so-called games of skill has a "problem with the Constitution of Colorado." He claims that the law was not clear until he lobbied to change it. The operators of these skill-gaming arcades, including Franzoy, have faced charges for unlawful offering of simulated gambling devices.
The new interpretation of the law, as experienced by the operators, includes seizure of equipment, destruction of equipment, and arrest of operators. Lawmakers in Denver had to pass a bill to redefine what constitutes a gambling machine in order to legally ban them.
However, the clarity of the law, as per Senator Bob Gardner, is a result of House Bill 1234. Senator Bob Gardner lobbied to change the law to make it more in line with his own point of view. The arcade machines, typically played for small stakes, have been compared to casino slots by detractors. The operators, on the other hand, argue that their machines are games of skill for cash prizes and do not constitute gambling.
The current legal status of skill-gaming arcades in Colorado after the passage of House Bill 1234 is yet to be determined. It would be necessary to review the specific provisions of the bill and any relevant state regulations regarding gaming activities in Colorado to ascertain the exact impact of the legislation on these arcades.
In the new legislation, House Bill 1234, casino-games like those found in skill-gaming arcades are reclassified as gambling machines, potentially affecting operators who argue their machines are games of skill. Concerns have been raised about the bill's broadness, with some fearing it may overstep limits and even consider simple activities like winning a Teddy bear at a fair as illegal gambling.
