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Bill would preserve ticket-accumulation prizes at arcades, supporters say
Summary
House Bill 633 would clarify state regulation to ensure family entertainment centers and arcades can continue allowing customers to accumulate tickets for larger prizes, supporters told the Ways and Means Committee.
Sponsor Chair Vanessa Adebari presented House Bill 633, a bill intended to codify longstanding regulatory treatment that distinguishes skill-based amusement devices — like arcade ticket games — from illegal slot machines.
"This legislation is attempting to clarify and codify existing regulations regarding skill based amusement devices in Maryland," Chair Vanessa Adebari said, describing family entertainment centers where players accumulate tickets and redeem them for prizes. "House 6 33 provides essential clarity by reinforcing our existing regulatory framework."
Representatives of Dave & Buster's and Main Event said the ability for customers to accumulate tickets and redeem them for higher-value prizes is fundamental to their business model and drives repeat visits. Tom Cole, representing Dave & Buster's, said the chain operates 158 stores and that making Maryland unique through restrictive regulation risked harming that market. A regional operations director for Dave & Buster's said the largest prizes typically are gaming consoles and similar items; he noted the company's Maryland footprint employs hundreds and pays millions in state taxes.
Committee members asked about technical details raised in the fiscal note — for example, a reference in proposed language to a $599 threshold for the aggregate "wholesale value" of redeemed prizes. Witnesses said they preferred no cap but could accept $599 if necessary; they also discussed modern card- and points-based systems used in arcades and whether definitions should explicitly include stored-value cards as well as physical tickets.
Questions also addressed whether county licensing of devices (for example, claw machines and coin-op devices) would be affected. Witnesses said HB 633 targeted arcade-style skill devices and that they would seek clarifying language for county-level device licensing.
The hearing record shows proponents from the entertainment industry and the bill sponsor seeking a favorable report; the committee did not record a final vote at the hearing.
