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AGA Renews Calls for Elimination of Unregulated Skill Machines
By Jeff Osienya Aug 23, 2023 LegalityThe American Gaming Association is once again calling for the complete removal of unregulated skill machines from the USA market. In a recent study, the gambling sector association found that Americans view the machines in a negative light.Bill Miller, the President of the American Gaming Association (AGA), has continued his long-standing campaign against unregulated ‘skill’ machines. The head of America’s lead gaming industry trade body suggested that unregulated ‘skill’ machines should be removed from all locations across the United States.
The comments by the AGA’s head come alongside the release of fresh data from the gaming industry trade body. The study released points to the fact that most American citizens think that the skill machines are games of chance, and as such, these machines ought to be regulated.
As usual, Bill did not mince his words in calling for the machines to be removed from America. He opined:
Quote“Unregulated machine manufacturers have built their businesses by duping consumers and small businesses while avoiding taxes, oversight, and consumer protections…These results are further evidence that Americans see these machines as a threat that should be eliminated, not regulated.”
Findings of the Study
According to a recent study, approximately two-thirds of American citizens, which equates to 65% of the population, say they are no different from slot machines. Mind you, luck is the only thing that is in consideration when it comes to how well you fare in the slot machine gaming process. This study was conducted online from August 11th to 18th, 2023, and it involved a sample size of 2002 American voters aged at least 21 years and above.
Skill machines have slowly crept into popularity and have become the subject of fierce debate on their legitimacy and how best to handle them. You’ll find skill machines in many bars, strip malls, convenience stores, and other community establishments nationwide.
Previous research estimates that over half a million unregulated skill machines are operational across the country, making the USA one of the leading hubs for these games. To put things into perspective, the 500,000 volumes equate to nearly 40% of the world’s total skill machine numbers.
Effects of Unregulated Skill Games
While the manufacturers say they are ‘skill games, to law enforcement agencies, gaming industry trade bodies like the AGA, and the regulated side of the casino scene, they are illegalities that must immediately be stopped. The machines’ popularity has skyrocketed over the years, leading to a brazen expansion by the operators and manufacturers of these games, as they (skill machines) are now commanding a sizeable chunk of the gaming market.
With their unregulated nature, these skill machines not only threaten the legal gaming industry economically, but they also pose a threat to legal gaming policies. That’s because they sidestep regulatory processes, which usually demand that licensed machines get de-registered should they fail to comply with the rules.
The other argument is that the unregulated skill machines are operated by manufacturers void of legal procedures. As such, there is no way to ascertain that they have followed the required operational frameworks and ensure that said games are of excellent quality and fair to the gamers involved. Additionally, unlike licensed games, unregulated skill machines do not pay taxes mandated by the law and are not thoroughly vetted for fairness.
According to the AGA, Americans wager $109 billion annually on unregulated skill machines. As a result, their lack of regulation costs the states $8.7 billion annually in taxes and as much as $27 billion in legal betting revenue. Had they been regulated, the said lost funds would have been channeled towards fostering the ‘legal’ side of gaming.
‘Skill’ Machines Viewed as Negative Influences
The survey also revealed that an overwhelming majority of American gamers view the ‘Skill’ machines negatively. 71% of those involved opined that these machines lacked protective measures to ensure that the games in no way harm players.
Meanwhile, 64% of the respondents also said the games were too easily accessible to children. Of course, we are all well aware that youngsters are a vulnerable group that gambling could adversely affect. 56% of the respondents also said that these games increase the risk of crime getting committed.
According to the AGA, many American citizens may also not be aware that ‘skill’ machines lack the same regulatory oversight as is the case with casino slot machines. Moreover, two-thirds of the American population familiar with ‘skill’ games expressed concerns about the machines’ overall impact on their communities. Miller added that:
Quote“Keeping America’s gaming industry strong, safe, and responsible can only be done through the robust infrastructure of the well-established legal market, not by rewarding bad actors with half measures that fail to address the dangers of unregulated gaming.”
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