Hardin County hearing: sheriff says '8-liner' machines illegal; county attorney urges regulation, not countywide ban

Hardin County held a special public hearing Oct. 28 to take public comment on a proposed amendment to a commissioner's court order regulating game rooms and gaming machines. The sheriff told the court that recent appellate rulings leave "no legal basis" for the machines and that law enforcement treats the devices themselves as illegal.

The sheriff said the devices commonly called "8-liners" pay out cash or redeemable credits and that appeals in related cases have been exhausted. "The device itself is illegal," the sheriff told the court, arguing that enforcement should focus on the machines regardless of whether they operate singly in convenience stores or inside dedicated game rooms.

In testimony and in answers to commissioners' questions, the sheriff described patterns law enforcement finds at illegal gaming locations: substance use, patrons with outstanding warrants and other criminal activity. He recounted raids and disturbances tied to illicit gaming locations and said those conditions have prompted community complaints. The sheriff also rejected the contention that players would simply travel to Louisiana casinos, saying many patrons "don't have driver's license to get there" or fear being identified and arrested if they show up at licensed casinos.

Matt, the county attorney, briefed the court on legal options and cited similar language adopted by Jefferson County. "I would not recommend the county doing a ban," Matt said. "I don't think you have the authority to do that at this moment in time." He explained that counties lack ordinance authority to prohibit gaming inside incorporated cities but can regulate game rooms in unincorporated areas and adopt rules that recognize appellate rulings and empower law enforcement to act.

Members of the public who spoke at the hearing urged tighter restrictions. Heather Yarbrough of Saratoga, who said she is in recovery from substance addiction, described having been involved in game rooms in the past and linked the locations to drug activity and public-safety concerns. "These game rooms are not a good thing," Yarbrough said. Jay Durrell of Wilmington said he supported whatever regulatory or permitting actions would keep game rooms out of Hardin County.

No amendment was adopted during the special hearing. The presiding officer said the proposed changes would be considered during the court's regular meeting at 10 a.m. The court then took a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Commissioner Cooper, and recessed.

The hearing clarified that the county's likely path is regulatory: adopt tighter gaming-room regulations that reference court rulings and give law enforcement authority to act, while leaving ordinance bans inside city limits to municipal governments.