Looking for Michigan and Federal gambling regulations

[davidbrit2]

I'm mostly interested in the qualities that define a "gaming device." I remeber reading a while back about an arcade operator that got busted because he had a ticket redemption game that relied totally on chance or predermined odds and involved no element of skill. I'm curious what other features of a redemption game might qualify it as an illegal gaming device. It would probably be a good idea to mention them to local arcade owners before the feds do. :-D

[Achika]

Think about checking here yet?

http://www.michigangaming.com/
http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb

[davidbrit2]

Good idea. I'll take a look. I wasn't having a whole lot of luck with Google earlier today. :-)

[FABombjoy]

Technically, that machine is/was considered a lottery, and lotteries are federally illegal under almost all circumstances (there are a few exclusions, and they vary from state to state). There are 3 things that must be present for something to be considered a lottery:

1 - Prize
There must be a prize of actual value offered

2 - Chance
There must be an element of chance to win the prize

3 - Consideration
Money, or something of measurable value must be given to participate

This is why you see the phrase "No purchase necessary" so often. If you had to buy a burger to enter a McDonalds contest, it would be considered a lottery.

Since skee-ball / whack-a-mole / etc. type redemption devices are based on skill, they are not considered lottery devices.

[davidbrit2]

Right, the skill element is what clears those kind of games.

Have you ever seen that Color Wheel game? It features a big wheel with several colored areas, all of different sizes and values. Basically, you place a bet on which one the rubber ball is going to land in when the whole mess stops spinning. I can't believe that thing could be considered legal.