A number of amusement machines offering prizes were seized last week by gaming authorities in the US state of Arizona.
A sweep of machines deemed to be illegal took place at locations throughout the cities of Phoenix and Tucson, led by agents form the Arizona Department of Gaming and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Warrants were served at a variety of locations, including grocery stores, shopping centres and a private residence.
Agents seized 24 machines with an estimated value of $132,000, merchandise worth $12,000 and $16,594 in cash.
The investigation began when ADG received an anonymous call regarding several suspected illegal gambling devices in the state. Arizona’s gambling laws state that prizes in “amusement” devices cannot be offered as a lure to “separate players from their money,” ADG said in a statement.
Undercover ADG agents confirmed the devices were operating illegally with prizes such as gift cards, iPads, TVs, Kindles and other electronic devices.
“There’s a big difference between amusement gaming and illegal gambling,” said Mark Brnovich (pictured), director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. “Although portrayed as amusement-type devices, these machines were engaged in separating consumers from their money with lavish prizes, some too big to even fit in them.”
