Horne and Gaming Dept. Crackdown on Illegal Gaming Machines

PHOENIX (Friday, May 20, 2011)  --  Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, and state Gaming Department Director Mark Brnovich today announced the seizure and subsequent destruction of 75 illegal gaming devices commonly known as coin pushers. Approximately $26,000 in cash was also seized.  A multi-agency task force seized the devices from locations throughout the metro Phoenix area. 

“These devices are nothing less than a scam,” Horne said.  “They not only fit the legal definition of gaming devices that are prohibited under state law, but they operate in such a way as to make it virtually impossible for anyone to win, and that is fraud.” 

“Protecting our communities from illegal gambling is a priority,” said Mark Brnovich, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. “We continue to investigate reports of this type of activity and remain committed to taking the appropriate action.” 

Coin pushers are machines into which a player inserts a coin and attempts to push other coins, tokens, jewelry or items of value off a shelf and into a collection bin.  Players are not guaranteed any return for their money and there is a large element of chance and are often designed with hidden features to ensure the player will lose. 

The distribution, installation and collection of revenue generated from the coin pushers are in violation of several criminal statutes including the promotion of gambling; fraud; money laundering; benefiting from gambling and possession of a gambling device.

A list of sites from which the devices were seized is attached.

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