Legal Age Slot Machines

State Laws for legal Slot Machine Ownership

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GAMBLING DEVICE. You must understand that using a slot machine for profit or gambling purposes is illegal and could subject you to severe penalties. Before purchasing a slot machine you must understand that every state does not allow ownership of these machines. However, we suggest that you check with your local authorities. We assume no responsibility for errors.

Pachislo machines are also know as Skill Stop, or Japanese Slot Machines. You may see that some people will advertise these as being authentic slot machines and might even state ‘Like used in Vegas’. This is not the case though it is possible to set these machines up to accept US coins, they are designed to accept tokens. The listing indicates which states these Pachislo machines are legal to operate.

New Information: We believe there is a concern over the legalities of these Pachislo machines in the States of Colorado, California, Washington, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota and Oregon

ALABAMA Any Machine PROHIBITED

ALASKA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

ARIZONA Any Machine LEGAL–Pachislo OK

ARKANSAS Any Machine LEGAL, Registration Required.–Pachislo OK

CALIFORNIA 25 Years or Older or Slot Business Reg. W/DOJ

COLORADO Introduced pre-1984 or Slot Business Reg. W/DOJ

CONNECTICUT Any Machine PROHIBITED

DELAWARE 25 Years or Older–Pachislo OK

FLORIDA 20 Yrs. or Older or Slot Bus. Reg. W/DOJ –Pachislo OK

GEORGIA Pre – 1950

HAWAII Any Machine PROHIBITED — Pachislo OK

IDAHO Pre – 1950 — Pachislo OK

ILLINOIS 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

INDIANA 40 Years or older — Pachislo OK (Law changed in 2012 to allow possession IC 35-45-5-3.5 Version a)

IOWA 25 Years or Older

KANSAS Pre – 1950– Pachislo OK

KENTUCKY Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

LOUISIANA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

MAINE Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

MARYLAND 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

MASSACHUSETTS 30 Years or Older. Poker machines & Video gaming devices of any age are legal for personal use.– Pachislo OK

MICHIGAN 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

MINNESOTA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

MISSISSIPPI 25 Years or Older

MISSOURI 30 Years or Older

MONTANA 25 Years or Older. Machines are not allowed to be on public premises for sale or display.

NEBRASKA Any Machine PROHIBITED

NEW HAMPSHIRE 25 Years or Older

NEW JERSEY 30 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

NEW MEXICO: We received a letter from the Gaming Control Board of New Mexico stating the following; The only gambling device that my be possessed without a license from the board is a bona fide antique device. An antique gambling device is a gambling device that is at least 25 years old, is substantially in original condition, and is not used for gambling or located in a gambling place. It is illegal to possess gambling devices otherwise, in New Mexico unless you are a distributor, manufacturer or operator licensed by the board. “This letter was dated August 2, 2000”.

NEW YORK 30 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

NEVADA Any Machine LEGAL. — Pachislo OK

NORTH CAROLINA 25 Years or Older

NORTH DAKOTA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

OHIO Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

OKLAHOMA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

OREGON 25 Years or Older — Pachislo OK only if the Pachislo machine is over 25 years old

PENNSYLVANIA Pre – 1941– Pachislo OK

RHODE ISLAND Any Machine LEGAL

SOUTH CAROLINA Any Machine PROHIBITED

SOUTH DAKOTA Pre – 1941

TENNESSEEAny Machine PROHIBITED– Pachislo OK

TEXAS Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

UTAH Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

VERMONT Pre – 1954

VIRGINIA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

WASHINGTON 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK

WASHINGTON D.C. Pre – 1952

WEST VIRGINIA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK

WISCONSIN 25 Years or Older

WYOMING 25 Years or Older

Introduction to Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling does not include games of chance, which are strictly illegal. Instead, Kentucky has competition-based electronic gaming machines at four out of its five pari-mutuel wagering racetracks.

Theoretical payout limits are not available but monthly return statistics are available for electronic gaming machines.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Kentucky*

The minimum legal gambling age in Kentucky depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: Not available
  • Poker Rooms: Not available
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Kentucky’s interpretation of legal gambling requires the competitor’s level of skill “must sufficiently govern the results.”

Therefore, competition-based games are legal as well as pari-mutuel wagering. Traditional slots are illegal, including those referred to as Class III, Vegas-style, and games-of-chance slot machines.

Kentucky has competition-based electronic games available in a few of their pari-mutuel facilities. These skill-based games are anonymously-based historical race results.

Historically, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929. To this day, the open display of illegal gambling from that time in American history continues to negatively affect the perception of gaming in Kentucky.

If you’re ever in Newport, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, consider walking the Newport Gangster Tour.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Kentucky

In Kentucky, it is legal to own a slot machine privately.

Gaming Control Board in Kentucky

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) regulates skill-based games at pari-mutual racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

These devices are Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines. The KHRC reports Kentucky offers 2,981 HHR machines.

Casinos in Kentucky

There are five pari-mutuel racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Of these, only four sites offer skill-based HHR electronic gaming machines.

Legal Age Slot Machines

The largest casino in Kentucky is Derby City Gaming with 1,000 HHR gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Red Mile Gaming & Racing, an HHR parlor in partnership with Keeneland Race Course, with 938 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Kentucky

The four out of five of Kentucky’s pari-mutuel racetracks with skill-based HHR electronic gaming machines are:

  1. Derby City Gaming in Louisville located 74 miles west of Lexington on the Indiana border.
  2. Ellis Park Racing and Gaming in Henderson located 105 miles northwest of Bowling Green.
  3. Kentucky Downs Gaming in Franklin located 29 miles south of Bowling Green.
  4. Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington.

Tribal Casinos in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has no federally-recognized American Indian tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Kentucky slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Kentucky is:

  1. North: Indiana and Ohio Slots
  2. East: West Virginia Slots
  3. Southeast: Virginia Slots
  4. South: Tennessee Slots
  5. West: Missouri Slots

Each link above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Kentucky.

Our Kentucky Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Kentucky? If so, join our new Kentucky slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Kentucky. Join us!

Payout Returns in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not offer any theoretical payout limits for their competition-based HHR gaming machines.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission offers statistics for HHR gaming under Quick Links entitled Wagering on Historical Horse Races. Its December 2019 report indirectly offers actual return statistics including comparisons to past actuals.

To calculate a player’s win percentage from the report, divide Less: Return to Public by Total Handle. For December 2019, the monthly Player’s Win% for HHR machines were:

  • State-wide: 91.5%
  • Derby City: 90.9%
  • Ellis Park: 93.9%
  • Keeneland/Red Mile: 91.3%
  • Kentucky Downs: 92.0%

From this December 2019 report, Ellis Park had the highest player win% at nearly 94% while Derby City had the lowest at nearly 91%.

Summary of Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling exists as competition-based, games-of-skill Historical Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines instead of games-of-chance slot machines.

No minimum or maximum theoretical payout limits have been set. Monthly return statistics are publicly available for each pari-mutuel racetrack with HHR games.

Annual Progress in Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, Kentucky increased its HHR machines by 9% to 2,981 devices. However, the average daily handle for HHRs increased by 46%. For 2020 so far, it’s an amazing 59% increase compared to 2019.

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

  • Previous: Kansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling
  • Next: Louisiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC