Waco City Council to consider banning controversial eight-liner gambling machines

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - The Waco City Council will consider a proposed ban of eight-liner gambling machines, as the electronic devices, similar to slot machines, continue to spark controversy across Texas.

The proposed ordinance, scheduled for first reading at Monday’s council meeting, would prohibit amusement redemption machines and change licensing requirements for nightclubs and indoor amusement facilities. If approved, the ban would take effect January 1, 2026.

Crime concerns drive push for ban

Waco Police Assistant Chief Mark Norcross told the city council in September that crime has increased 20 times near businesses with eight-liner machines.

“These things are nothing but crime magnets,” Norcross said. “Beat officers learn very quickly when one of these establishments is open within his beat because the number of calls to those locations go up substantially.”

The problem is especially pronounced on Valley Mills Drive, according to Norcross, who said the machines “attract a certain type of person, especially at certain times of the day.”

Legal loophole closing

Lotteries have been illegal in Texas since it joined the Union in 1845, followed by gambling in the early 1900s. Eight-liner machines have operated through a loophole known as the “fuzzy animal exception.” The Texas Legislature passed this exception in the 1990s to protect arcades with games that award unique currency, such as tickets, to be spent in-house.

However, a Texas Supreme Court case from last year determined that eight-liners could be considered unconstitutional gambling devices, paving the way for cities to ban them. The City of Fort Worth v. Rylie case found that electronic gaming machines were illegal lotteries because they require consideration for a chance to win a prize.

New definitions proposed

Sarah Rayley, assistant director for Waco’s Development Services, explained the city’s approach to closing the loophole.

“In one bucket we would have the amusement redemption machines that are the eight-liners that are like slot machines,” Rayley said. “And then the other bucket we would have arcade games like Skee-Ball or shooting a basketball for tickets, where you’re using some level of skill. Also, juke boxes and pool tables and things like that.”

The proposed ordinance would update definitions to distinguish between skill-based arcade games and chance-based gambling devices. Machines that depend on a user’s ability to throw, roll, flip, toss, hit or drop objects would remain legal, while devices requiring consideration for a chance to win would be prohibited.

Bellmead bans eight-liners in May 2025

The City of Bellmead banned eight-liner machines in May, and City Manager Yost Zakhary said the results have been positive.

“We have had virtually no negative feedback from it whatsoever,” Zakhary said. “I think in the long run you will see much less criminal activity.”

Zakhary hopes Waco will follow Bellmead’s lead in eliminating the controversial machines.

According to city documents, the proposed ban would result in a revenue loss of approximately $6,000 per fiscal year from repealing the occupations tax on coin-operated machines. The ordinance also proposes changing nightclub and indoor amusement facility licenses from five-year to annual renewals with reduced fees.

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