1. Contributing Member States:
Summer Meeting 2017
Westin Downtown
Denver, CO
Contributing Member States:
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania & Texas
Save the Date: NCLGS Winter Meeting 2018 January 5-7, Hyatt Regency, Miami, FL

3. Andromeda Morrison, Director of Skill Games
OHIO CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION
Andromeda Morrison, Director of Skill Games

4. Skill Games Oversight
In 2015, Ohio Casino Control Commission (“Commission”) was given authority to regulate Skill-based amusement machines (“SBAM”s) in the same manner as it regulates casino gaming.
Regulatory oversight developed as a result of illegal gaming proliferating throughout the state.
Previous attempts by the Ohio Legislature to regulate the industry resulted in many operators rebranding themselves to avoid oversight.

5. Skill Games
A device that rewards the player only with merchandise prizes or redeemable vouchers for merchandise.
The reward or redemption value cannot equate to more than $10 wholesale per play.
But, the device will be considered a slot machine if it:
Pays out cash; or
Reward or success is not based solely on skill.
Graphic from The Columbus Dispatch

6. Skill Games Prohibited Prizes: Cash Gift cards
Plays on games of chance
State lottery tickets
Bingo or instant bingo
Firearms
Tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; or vouchers redeemable for any prohibited prize

7. Skill Games?

8. Illegal Casino Investigations
Warrants served on 13 businesses & 6 residences
1,066 illegal slot machines seized/disabled
$696,000 in cash seized on site

9. Illegal Casinos

10. Skill Games Oversight
The Commission has rule-making authority over skill-based games (HB 64; effective Sept. 2015)
Skill Games Division has drafted 28 rules related to regulate the industry – includes licensing, compliance and enforcement provisions. Rules are currently working through the CSI/JCARR Process.
Goal is to create a system that enables OCCC to effectively identify those operating true skill-based games versus those running illegal slot machines.
Anticipate rules taking effect late 2017

11. SBAM Categories
Type-A: games that do not enable a player to receive a prize as a reward for playing the game, with the exception of free replays (pinball and arcade-style games).
Type-B: games where a player uses skill to obtain a prize wholly contained within the machine (crane and claw machines).
Type-C: games that do not meet the definition of a type-A or type-B skill-based amusement machine. Most type-C skill-based amusement machines are redemption-style games where a player would redeem tickets, tokens, or vouchers awarded from the machine to obtain a prize (Dave and Busters, Chuck E Cheese).

12. Skill Games License Categories
Type A
No License Required
Type B
Vendors – manufacturers and distributors of type-B games
Operators – operate type-B games at any location, but do not operate type-C games
Key employees – executive decision-maker of a type-B vendor or operator
Type C
Vendors – manufacturers and distributors of type-C games
Operators – operate type-C games at any location
Locations – any place where a type-C game is operated
Key employees – executive decision-maker of a type-C vendor, operator, or location
Applicants involved with multiple types of games need only apply for a single license (e.g. operator of Type B & C games would apply for a Type C license)

13. Game Approval Process
Games must meet technical standards adopted by the Commission
Two paths to approval:
Direct submission; or
Testing by a certified testing laboratory
Commission will publish a public database of all approved games
Once approved, a game can be used by any licensed person

14. Andromeda Morrison, Director of Skill Games
OHIO CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION
Andromeda Morrison, Director of Skill Games