Denver police recently seized thousands of dollars in cash and machines. Colorado Springs and Pueblo also were raided. Owners of the Denver locations, Tammy Garamova, who owns the establishments with her husband Bagrat, said, “We are not running a casino. These are games of skill. This is no different than Dave and Busters or Chuck E Cheese,” where players earn points they can redeem for prizes.
Garamova said American Pride reopened while she and her husband wait to see if they will face criminal charges.
“We are scared. We realize the deck is stacked against us,” she said. A third location recently was scheduled to open in Englewood but that’s on hold as a result of the Denver raids. Denver police said the investigation still is open.
Garamova noted games of skill are exempt from Colorado gambling laws. Chris Hawes, executive director of the newly formed Colorado Skill Games and Entertainment Association, added, “Arcade games are not games of chance. You are using a joystick and a button and these are games of skill.”
