It is unlawful for any person to keep on his premises or operate or permit to be kept on his premises or operated within this State any vending or slot machine, or any video game machine with a free play feature operated by a slot in which is deposited a coin or thing of value, or other device operated by a slot in which is deposited a coin or thing of value for the play of poker, blackjack, keno, lotto, bingo, or craps, or any machine or device licensed pursuant to Section 12-21-2720 and used for gambling or any punch board, pull board, or other device pertaining to games of chance of whatever name or kind, including those machines, boards, or other devices that display different pictures, words, or symbols, at different plays or different numbers, whether in words or figures or, which deposit tokens or coins at regular intervals or in varying numbers to the player or in the machine, but the provisions of this section do not extend to coin-operated nonpayout pin tables, in-line pin games, or to automatic weighing, measuring, musical, and vending machines which are constructed as to give a certain uniform and fair return in value for each coin deposited and in which there is no element of chance.

Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for a period of not more than one year, or both.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 308, Section 4; 1997 Act No. 155, Part II, Section 54B; 1999 Act No. 125, Section 1; 1999 Act No. 125, Section 8.

Editor's Note

Licensure under Section 12-21-2720 is no longer effective after June 30, 2000.

1999 Act No. 125, Part VI, Section 23, subsections (C) and (D), provide as follows:

"(C) Part I takes effect July 1, 2000;

"(D) If Part I takes effect, the South Carolina Department of Revenue, upon application, shall refund to any person holding a license for the operation of video game machines, on a pro rata basis, the portion of any license fee previously paid to the department for licenses that extend beyond June 30, 2000;"