A Charlotte City Council committee looking to crack down on “fish game” arcades has asked staff to investigate potential new regulations as it considers asking Raleigh legislators to weigh in. Members of the city’s Budget, Governance, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee raised the possibility of the addition to its legislative agenda at an Oct. 7 meeting.
Essentially, the agenda is a wish list presented to the state’s General Assembly.
As reported by Axios, Charlotte’s council believes the games, primarily found in lower-income neighborhoods, hinder efforts to improve those historically marginalized areas. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the arcades are “a magnet” for criminal activity.
In North Carolina, legal gambling permits only tribal casinos, the state-run lottery, charitable bingos and raffles, and games of skill.
City Aims to Close Skill Games Loophole
During the discussion of its legislative agenda, committee members requested further “information and discussion” on several issues. In this case, they asked staff to investigate existing local authority to “enact zoning restrictions with respect to proximity, number, etc.,” on “arcade” parlors.
While Council member LaWana Mayfield initially raised the issue, committee chair Dimple Ajmera echoed her call, saying the city has a “responsibility” to act. To that end, the committee is looking to close the loophole once and for all, Amjera said.
They are operating under this loophole that’s skilled-based gaming. We are using our lobbying power to make a case of let’s do something about it because we all know currently the status quo is not working for our neighborhoods.
Although the skill games in question differ from those under fire in other states, the underlying issue is much the same.
While CMPD labels the arcades as illegal casinos, the operators argue the games are skill-based, not dependent on luck. Relying on the skill loophole has allowed arcades to remain open for the most part, although police regularly raid the locations, confiscating machines and money.
In April, CMPD collaborated with state and federal enforcement agencies to execute a statewide crackdown on the illegal arcades, including two locations in Charlotte. At those locations, authorities made two arrests and seized 117 gambling machines, nearly $18,000 in cash, and two firearms.
All told, the raids in Charlotte, Gastonia, and Raleigh resulted in 800 charges.
Authorities Deem Arcades “Havens” for Crime
Despite that success, CMPD told Axios that it knows nearly 60 skill-game businesses are still in operation, while others exist underground in unexpected places, including gas stations.
However, while city leaders search for possible regulatory solutions, CMPD has cautioned that tools like zoning laws can only go so far. The department said most of these businesses already violate building and fire codes.
The department also said that while crimes at arcades can sometimes go unreported, its data indicates they attract the criminal element.
Since 2022, CMPD linked two homicides, one rape, 65 robberies, and 30 aggravated assaults to arcade locations. Further, an armed robbery committed earlier this month is still under investigation.
Police also reported situations when operators refuse to pay winnings or threaten players.
CMPD is aware of instances where arcade owners and employees are threatening victims to keep them from calling police, withholding ‘winnings’ from them to keep them silent, and paying them off to keep them silent.
After the April raids, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings described the arcades as crime “havens.”
These fish arcades and other illegal gambling locations are havens for criminal activity. Often, the most vulnerable members of our communities are targeted to gamble at these locations. We are very thankful for our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to help us send a message that we will not tolerate these establishments preying on our citizens.
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