Elected officials in Munroe Falls, Ohio have unanimously renewed a one-year ban on new applications for amusement arcades. The ban, which will run through early August 2009, prohibits gaming arcades "of any and all types" from operating.
City officials said the freeze would likely remain in effect for an indefinite term since Ohio's legislature and the courts have not clearly defined legal and illegal gambling. However, the slow movement of the legislative process and judicial systems may delay any final decisions.
Lawmakers banned skill games in late 2007. The Ohio Coin Machine Association claims the law was hastily enacted and its language so broadly written that it potentially could impact the legal status of cash-prize tournaments run on online sports-themed videogames.
The fear of other municipalities following suit has operators worried. Another potential ban would bar the installation of games of skill or chance in restaurants that serve alcohol.
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