LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A gambling bill, House Bill 5227, was introduced at the end of October in the Michigan House that would make it illegal to play certain recreational games in the state. Democratic Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint) has introduced legislation that redefines slot machines in the state law, and it appears to some, because of broad wording, that fun arcade games will be getting thrown into the mix of being illegal – threatening those who offer them with two years of imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

HB 5227 re-defines a slot machine in Michigan as follows: “As used in this chapter, ‘slot machine’ means any mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or other device, contrivance, or machine that, on insertion of a coin, token, or similar object, or on payment of any consideration, is available to play or operate. The play or operation of the slot machine, whether by reason of skill of the operator or application of the element of chance, or both, may deliver to or entitle the person playing or operating the machine to receive cash, premiums, merchandise, tokens, or anything of value, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other manner.”

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Nelley’s new “Skee-Ball bill” has four other co-sponsors, all Democrats. Michigan News Source found 15 other bills that have been sponsored by Neeley including a bill to declare Black Maternal Health Week, a resolution to declare September 2023 as Cholesterol Education Month and a weapons bill to expand gun-free zones to include all buildings owned or leased by the state.

Rep. Neeley, the wife of Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, has not promoted  HB 5227 on her website or in a press release, and hasn’t spoken publicly about the bill.  She also did not return a request for comment about the legislation when contacted about why the bill was introduced and to get more clarification about it.

Michigan News Source reached out to Steve Delie,  director of labor policy at the Mackinac Center, and he said, “The bill’s intent is pretty clear, and seems to be aimed at updating the definition of slot machine to cover more modern machines. Right now, the definition only applies to mechanical machines (rather than electrical ones). The issue is that the new definition risks being over-inclusive. Although this is a broad area of law, with other areas offering potential carve outs, expanding the definition creates the risk of unintended consequences.” Delie doesn’t believe the bill is an attempt to raise new revenue but instead, is an attempt to modernize the law. However, in doing so, he says the bill could have broader implications than are intended.

Delie had said to Michigan Capitol Confidential about the legislation, “This bill is a classic example of politically caused unintended consequences. The definition is so broad, it would outlaw what is clearly recreational activity. Unless the Michigan Legislature wants to make it a felony for kids to play at the arcade, the proposed law should be seriously amended or scrapped altogether.”

If the bill isn’t amended or scrapped as suggested, bowling alleys and businesses like Dave and Busters and Chuck E. Cheese might become subject to gambling laws because games where players can earn tickets or tokens and exchange them for prizes would be considered gambling in Michigan as the new law suggests.

Going to a fun place like the Great Wolf Lodge’s arcade will be a thing of the past because it would be illegal to allow an arcade game, like Skee-Ball or Wac-a-Mole to give kids tickets to exchange for flavored Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers, stuffed animals, yo-yos, stickers or lava lamps.

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Chuck E. Cheese doesn’t seem to be worried about the news legislation though. Michigan News Source reached out to a company spokesperson, and they said, “We are aware of HB 5227 introduced in the Michigan legislature on October 25, 2023 and the inaccurate claims in the media concerning the bills impact on our operations. After a thorough review of the bill and Michigan statutes, we are happy to confirm that the bill does not impact our operations.”

HB 5227 has been referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform but it might stay there for a while due to the recent elections in the state. The Michigan House is now deadlocked with 54 Republicans and 54 Democrats after the mayoral wins of two Democratic Reps on election day – Lori Stone of Warren and Kevin Coleman of Westland – who are scheduled to be sworn into their new offices soon. The Skee-Ball bill as well as many other bills which are not bipartisan will most likely be held up until special elections are held to replace the Democratic legislators.

 Neeley’s bill was introduced about two months after having a meeting with Flint city officials (including her husband) and the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) Executive Director Henry Williams, to discuss ways to combat illegal gaming in the city. According to the Michigan Gaming Control Board, during the August meeting, the officials discussed the impact of storefront casinos and illegal gaming on residents and how such establishments are a nuisance for the city, tarnishing the reputations of regulated, legitimate gaming establishments. Unlicensed casinos, unauthorized online gambling platforms, underground sports-betting operations, or any other form of wagering that is not regulated by the MGCB are all considered forms of illegal gaming. And now it seems that to Michigan Democrats, children’s arcade games that allow kids and teenagers to “win” free candy and cheap merchandise from China are just as bad.

Rep. Neeley said about Flint meeting, “By working together to implement comprehensive measures – from strengthening laws and regulatory frameworks to raising awareness about the issue of illegal gaming machines – we can help reduce the prevalence of illegal gaming in our communities…I will do what I can to help advance any necessary changes to the law in my capacity serving with the Michigan Legislature.”

Don’t tell that to the Chuck E. Cheese rat who might be losing all of his friends soon depending on the interpretation of HB 5227.