League City postpones final vote on banning gambling devices

Digging deeper

The ordinance specifically prohibits the operation or display of electronic gaming devices commonly known as eight-liners, as well as video poker, keno, blackjack and slot-machine-style devices, according to city documents.

In doing so, the city declared both the gambling devices themselves and the premises where they are operated to be a public nuisance and violations as misdemeanors, according to city documents.

The ordinance distinguishes between lawful amusement devices like arcade games and claw machines, which Mayor Nick Long said were often used as a loophole to operate the gambling devices.

“In the past you could bring these gaming places in and say they were just for entertainment value and they were paying out stuffed animals and tokens ... but in reality, they’re just illegal gambling places,” Long said.