The Washington Gambling Commission is considering new rules that might curtail, ban or expand so-called “skill” games, which many critics think are forms of gambling disguised as a harmless game of skill—although limited skill.
The commission allowed the new games last summer, but is reconsidering its decision.
Typically a player might put some money into a slot and watch the fruits spin. Or try to get a winning poker hand on a slot machine-lookalike.
The problem, as Washington’s gaming tribes like to remind lawmakers is that Indian casinos have a monopoly on slot machines. Vendors who carry these games insist they are games of skill. Others compare them to video games. Some players say they get the thrill of playing slot machines while staying at a familiar bar.
Prizes are usually small amounts of cash in the form of credits to buy food or drink or lottery pull-tabs.
Eight months after allowing the games, the commission this week will meet to decide whether that was a good decision. If they decide to ban the games, the commission will very likely be sued by Amusement Device Operators.
If they don’t impose a ban, they face further pressure from the legislature, where several lawmakers have threatened to pass a law banning them.
Last week the House Minority and Majority leaders called on the commission to repeal its authorization of the games. “We are committed to taking whatever legislative action necessary to pull back this expansion of gambling,” they wrote.
They added, “Washington has established a system where we have pretty strong controls about where gaming is taking place, and this tears down the system that we have.”
This outrages a lobbyist for the Washington Amusement and Music Operators Association, which commented last week, “The tribes have a competitive advantage and are maintaining it by pouring money into these legislative races and then demanding whatever they want.”
