A major crackdown

Memphis police have been cracking down on illegal gambling machines at corner stores and gas stations. Working alongside the District Attorney’s Office on “Operation Casino Royale,” the police department has seized over $1m in cash, drugs, firearms, and more than 260 gambling machines since July 2022.

games of chance are illegal in Tennessee

A total of 65 investigations have been carried out, resulting in multiple arrests, a dozen city ordinances, and 53 misdemeanors. All games of chance are illegal in Tennessee and the authorities believe that this type of gambling increases the probability of criminal behavior occurring.

A question of legality

One of the most contentious issues that the Memphis police have come across during their crackdown has been gambling machines whose manufacturers claim they are not games of chance. Manufacturer Torch Electronics says that its machines do not fall under the state’s definition of gambling.

certain machines have settings that technically can mean that they are not games of chance

FOX13 Memphis got in touch with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office to see if Torch Electronics’ claims are legit. The response was that it is a “somewhat complicated legal question” as certain machines have settings that technically can mean that they are not games of chance. The authorities can only pursue legal recourse if the settings violate state law.

The District Attorney’s Office has told a machine vendor that its current configurations mean that the games do not seem to be legal and has advised for their removal. A vendor has asked for a reconsideration of this stance, with a decision expected on the matter in the near future.

Knock-on impact

Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research Executive Director James Whelan, an expert on the subject, says that illegal slot machines increase the chances of people becoming victims.

Many of the machines that Memphis police seized were in high crime areas and their presence often resulted in more serious offenses occurring, such as assaults and robberies.