legal issue

[Urban Archaeologist]

How about some opinions on this....

Are pachislo machines legal in Tennessee? And how would I find out for absolute certainty?

I already have two machines and want a few more. I believe I could sell some locally too as some of my friends who have seen mine show an interest in buying one but they are a little leary of getting something that might land them in jail which is also a concern I have!!!

Here's what I know so far...

Different sellers on ebay make different claims about selling to my state. I contacted DGI about purchasing from them and was told they won't ship to Tennessee. Pachinko_Place ships to Tennessee. Several other sellers also ship to Tennessee but one other I contacted also told me no.

I checked the Tennessee Government Official Website and found the law about Gambling machines and all are illegal but nothing was said pertaining to pachislo machines nor anything about token in token out machines.

I also asked a local deputy sheriff and he didn't know what a pachislo machine was but.... and I quote "if it looks like a slot machine it must be illegal" I live in a small town and the deputies aren't really too bright to begin with. Every few years whoever gets elected Sheriff brings in all his buddies to be deputies so their knowledge of the law is usually very limited in matters like this!!

I emailed the State Lottery Commission and asked them and never received a reply. That was the only state office I could find that pertained to gambling but probably wasn't who I needed to contact. I did ask them to forward my email to the correct government office for me.

No email address was available for Attorney Generals office just a phone number - when I called after being transfered a couple of times and spending nearly half an hour on hold (long distance) I gave up getting any answers from them.

Anyone have any ideas or know for sure what the legal status of Pachislo machines in Tennessee are?

[bmatonte]

Go to the section "Tips and Tricks"...there is a legal post there. Says Pachislos are OK in Tenn. Otherwise, have you consider moving, sounds like you could get arrested for doing something legal in that town.

[Urban Archaeologist]

You're right!!! And as anyone who lives in a small town knows if you were not born there you're a "foreigner or alien" too. I've been here for 19 years and still ain't in the "click" not that I'd really want to be. When it comes to getting arrested us aliens get "preferred treatment" if you know what I mean. Someone born here can do most anything outside of murder and it's no big deal.

[arbycoffee]

An old Law Professor I knew said it best, "It is all legal till you get cought"

It is in interpatation of the law, and how they interpet it. Most do not say "no Pachislot", but when you read the description of a gambling device, that it might fit.

[Urban Archaeologist]

Hi Arby That's exactly why I went ahead and bought a couple even if they ain't legal. I figured like you said, only illegal if you get caught. Main reason I would like to have some proof they are legal is I sell at local antique shop and would like to display some for sale. I know I can sell a few "under the table" to friends.
By the way, I sure like that Twist machine you have up for sale. If you don't sell it in the near future I might be in touch with you about it. I need to sell some junk to raise the funds first. Cash flow has been slim lately and these toys have to wait!!

[arbycoffee]

Robert at Pachislousa has a chip to make it that you don't need to use tokens to play.
You should contact him, with the chip installed, maybe you could sell them than ?

Pachislo USA Japanese Slot Machines;
www.pachislousa.com
Pachislo (pachislo@pachislousa.com)
Robert

[Urban Archaeologist]

That's a good idea. I got my Tatsujin from Robert. Maybe I could buy some machines wholesale from him to sell locally with the chip already installed. I'm sure it would cost a little extra for getting it installed but that's better than me ruining a machine. I do stained glass for a hobby and have no problem soldering that but electronics I've never tried.

[RKnarr01]

i would give pachislousa a call they have really decent priced machines.

[arbycoffee]

RKnarr01, your eye are all glassy, where you been ?

[TANK]

YEARS AGO WHEN I BOUGHT MY FIRST MACHINE GUN I WENT TO THE LOCAL POLICE STATION TO GET A SIGN OFF BY THE CHIEF. THEY SAID "YOU CAN'T OWN THAT IN THE USA!!!!! THEN PROCEEDED TO ARREST ME! NEEDLESS TO SAY THE FALSE ARREST SETTLEMENT HAS SINCE BOUGHT ME A NUMBER OF M.G.s AND THE CHIEF WAS ALWAYS HAPPY TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK!
BUT WHEN I BOUGHT MY FIRST TRACKED VEHICLE.....WELL THATS ANOTHER STORY...

[slotter]

RKnarr01, your eye are all glassy, where you been ?

Hopefully, he hasn't been ingesting anything illegal. :-P :-P

[arbycoffee]

No, maybe he got some of those eye ball glasses to play his slots

[RKnarr01]

its a pair of those glasses on ebay to intimidate my machines into paying out constantly

[arbycoffee]

they don't see you looking

[RKnarr01]

so far their not helping any