Coin Slot Magazine - #009 - 1975 - June [International Arcade Museum]
applies only if they are operated as gambling devices
I There's an impor-
tant distinction here. It's what people do with machines that make them
troublesome. For instance, an antique revolver could be used in a hold
up, but the person using the gun is culpable, not the gun. Yet as an anti
que without criminal use, the gun can be owned, and displayed. An anti
que sports car could be used for a getaway in a robbery. The robbers
would be the criminals, not the car. The car, if not criminally used, is
a valid antique, and can be exhibited, and driven. But here's where the
inconsistencies come in. Anyone that has a slot machine is automatically
a criminal by virture of machine ownership, whether it works or not. In
most states it is illegal to own a slot machine. Federal laws now on the
books make it illegal to ship slot machines across state lines without
government approval, no matter what the age or condition. FBI and state
"busts" of collectors and antique dealers buying, selling, trading and im
porting such machines are occurring with increasing frequency. It is even
illegal in some areas to reproduce or distribute the well-known slot mach
ine fruit symbols in spite of their use in national advertising and printing.
While there has been a so-called Sexual Revolution (you can discuss just
about everything now, even have it printed or filmed), there has obviously
been no Slot Machine Revolution; To have a machine is to gamble illegally
in the eyes of the law in most states. The law in the state of Illinois is
typical. Article 28 of the Illinois Criminal Code (28-l-a-3) states "A
person commits gambling when he: operated, keeps, owns, uses, purcha
ses, exhibits, rents, sells, bargains for the sale or lease of, manufac
tures or distributes any gambling device ", and (29-5-a) "every gambling
device which is uncapable of lawful use is contraband and shall be subject
to seizure, confiscation and destruction... (which) includes any slot
machine, and includes any machine or device constructed for the recep
tion of money or other thing of value and so constructed as to return on
chance to the player thereof money, property or a right to receive money
or property ."
The major fallacy in the whole legal concept of prohibiting the private
collecting and display of mechanical gaming machines is the alleged conn
ection with gambling. People who collect slot machines (Yes—there are
collectors, in spite of the enormous legal difficulties) don't use themTor
gambling. For one thing, they don't like to have their treasured machines
used too often. It wears them out* and things can go wrong. Secondly,__
there is no possible way to make moneyiat "iC; The depreciation of money, ♦
and the many expensive service calls'needed to keep the machine working,
would cost more than the take. Maybe, back in the twenties or thirties,
unscrupulous operators (and even then most of them were honest business
men !) could make the slots turn a good dollar through muscle and multi-
pie locations. But there's no way that a machine, or two, or ten, or twe
nty in a basement or game room could begin to pay their way. True, the
real devotee wants the machines to work, and generally provides a bowl
of coins (If you're really into it, they'll be Liberty Head nickels! ) so
they can be played. But it's house money I I've never met a collector—
and I've met many—that ever made money on their gaming machines.
Entertainment, yesl Income, nol
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private owner. For instance, a beautifully restored Caille NEW CEOTURY
•DETROIT is on display in a simulated 19th century street in the Detroit
City Museum. The law apparently closes its eyes to the museum, but a
private collector in Detroit having the same machine faces the prospect of
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