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UKSan Antonio Councilwoman Proposes Ban on Slot-Like Eight-Liner Machines
Key Highlights
- Councilwoman Teri Castillo wants San Antonio to ban eight-liner operations citywide.
- The proposal calls for stronger enforcement, inspections, public education, and reporting options.
- The measure must first advance through the City Council’s Governance Committee.
A San Antonio councilwoman is pushing a proposal to ban eight-liner video gaming machines citywide, citing concerns of illegal gambling.
Councilwoman Teri Castillo Targets Eight-Liner Gambling Operations
Councilwoman Teri Castillo filed a Council Consideration Request on Sept. 4, calling for the ban of eight-liners. These terminals look and operate similarly to slot casino games and are commonly found in convenience stores, typically awarding prizes in the form of non-cash merchandise. They’re categorized as games involving some level of skill and may offer non-cash prizes worth less than $5 or no more than 10 times the price of play.
Eight-liner machines can legally award limited prizes in Texas under a provision commonly called the “fuzzy animal exception,” which allows amusement games to award small, non-cash prizes like stuffed toys instead of cash. Castillo argues operators are exploiting that exception beyond its intended use for arcade and carnival games. Following conversations with constituents, Castillo claims the “trend that we’re hearing … is that these machines are issuing cash that goes beyond the gray area of the ‘fuzzy animal’ [exemption].”
Castillo’s proposal also calls for stronger inspections and enforcement as well as additional community education and new ways for residents to report suspected illegal gambling. While she is calling for an outright ban on eight-liners, she would be happy with increased regulation on the machines. Eight-liners currently operate in a legal grey area of Texas gambling law, and operators are responsible for ensuring they’re not being used for illegal gambling.
Texas Law & Court Rulings Shape Proposal
Castillo’s proposal says oversight is limited when it comes to verifying whether eight-liner operators follow restrictions on prizes and skill-based gameplay. It also cites a 2022 appeals court ruling that determined eight-liners function as unconstitutional illegal lotteries. The Texas Supreme Court declined to review that ruling in 2024.
Nearly a dozen other Texas municipalities have since banned eight-liners and game rooms, and concerns about the machines have also surfaced in Bexar County through law enforcement investigations.
In March, deputies arrested two people at a home where authorities said they discovered about 50 eight-liner machines and a safe containing a large amount of cash. Police raided the same property in 2022, seizing more than 100 machines and $30,000 in cash.
City Council Review Comes Next
The proposed ban isn’t yet scheduled for a full San Antonio City Council vote. Castillo’s request must first be considered by the council’s Governance Committee, which will decide whether the proposal should advance. No date has been announced for when the committee will take up the issue.
If the proposal moves forward, council members could consider restrictions covering eight-liner operations across San Antonio. Castillo’s request also seeks enforcement and inspection measures designed to address operators accused of violating gambling laws. The proposal would add public education and reporting efforts alongside any potential citywide prohibition.
