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Angleton council debates banning or tightening rules for '8‑liner' gaming machines, asks staff to draft code changes
Summary
Council discussed banning 8‑liner gaming machines after police and code staff described enforcement challenges and the city attorney warned of litigation risk; members asked staff to research ordinance and permitting changes rather than take immediate action.
Councilmember (item sponsor) introduced a discussion on whether Angleton should ban or otherwise restrict so‑called “8‑liner” gaming machines, saying several neighboring cities had taken action and that residents had asked the council to consider pros and cons.
Police and code enforcement staff told council the city has about a dozen convenience stores or locations with machines. One officer summarized enforcement difficulties: compliance checks remove boards, but machines often reappear or operators change ownership, which blunts enforcement. The officer said previous sweeps required large police efforts and machines frequently returned.
The city attorney told council that other Texas cities have faced extended litigation. “Fort Worth’s ordinance went up appeal twice to the Texas Supreme Court,” the attorney said, noting the city had to warehouse seized machines and that litigation is lengthy and resource‑intensive.
Councilmembers explored a range of options: an outright ban with a future effective date; tightening special‑use permits (SUPs) so new game rooms would not be approved; limiting the number of machines in convenience stores; or letting existing permits lapse and not renewing them. Several councilmembers favored a stepwise approach that would reduce the number of operating machines over time while staff refines language to reduce legal risk.
No ordinance was adopted. Instead council asked legal, police and planning/code staff to draft possible ordinance language and code cleanups (including permit/SUP options and effective dates) and present those options for council consideration. Several members emphasized resource and legal challenges to immediate seizure or forced removal of machines.
Councilmember remarks noted public safety concerns — including aggravated robberies and other crimes linked in the record to some game‑room activity — and the need to balance enforcement resources. The record shows the council preferred pursuing code cleanup and permit strategies rather than engaging in immediate litigation or seizure of equipment.
