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Gaming machines seized in South Carolina

March 5, 2006 on 7:01 pm | In Slot machine articles online |

In many States in the USA conventional slot machines are illegal. The recent proliferation of Indian casinos is reducing this trend somewhat, but given they operate largely on sovereign land it could be argued they’re outside the actual US State borders in any case.

The recent seizure of 464 slot machines in South Carolina brings to light a new breed of slot machine - one hooked up for internet play.

“S.C. authorities seized 464 gaming machines and computers … Of the 464 machines taken, 395 were tied to Internet games … Long counters lined with flat-panel monitors and padded office chairs filled the dark, often smoky Fort Mill cafes. Keyboards usually were stored under counters because players didn’t need them for the games. Employees offered free soft drinks and snacks to players engrossed in their screens. Cafe customers got cards for prepaid time to surf the Web, but the computers were preset to play video-slot games … Then players could take their cards to cashiers and take home their winnings.”

Charlotte Article

Theres certainly a market for enterprising individuals to operate internet cafe style businesses selling time on virtual slot machines such as ours (with permission), but the issue of making win payouts changes the scenario entirely. In Australia at least, the rules and regulations binding operators of slot machines are complex and would prohibit such operations.