Bill Text: TX SB517 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to criminal offenses applicable to and authorized uses of gambling devices, including eight-liners.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-02 - Filed [SB517 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB517-Introduced.html

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89R2000 BEE-D
By: Middleton S.B. No. 517

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to criminal offenses applicable to and authorized uses of
gambling devices, including eight-liners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 47.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subdivisions (2-a) and (2-b) and amending Subdivisions (4) and (9)
to read as follows:
(2-a) "Device" includes all or part of an electronic,
electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance, machine, or
apparatus.
(2-b) "Eight-liner" means an electronic device
capable of simulating the play of a traditional mechanical slot
machine, regardless of the number of lines of play, that for
consideration affords a player or user of the device an opportunity
to win a prize based solely or partially on chance.
(4) "Gambling device" means any device [electronic,
electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance not excluded under
Paragraph (B)] that for [a] consideration affords the player or
user of the device an opportunity to obtain any thing [anything] of
value, the award of which is determined solely or partially by
chance, even though accompanied by some skill[, whether or not the
prize is automatically paid by the contrivance]. The term[:
[(A)] includes:
(A) an eight-liner; and
(B) a[, but is not limited to,] gambling device
version [versions] of bingo, keno, blackjack, lottery, roulette,
video poker, or similar electronic, electromechanical, or
mechanical games, or a facsimile of any of those or similar games
[facsimiles thereof], that:
(i) operates solely or partially [operate]
by chance;
(ii) [or partially so, that] as a result of
the play or use [operation] of the game, awards [award] credits or
free games; [,] and
(iii) records [that record] the number of
free games or credits [so] awarded and the cancellation or removal
of the free games or credits[; and
[(B) does not include any electronic,
electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance designed, made, and
adapted solely for bona fide amusement purposes if the contrivance
rewards the player exclusively with noncash merchandise prizes,
toys, or novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for
those items, that have a wholesale value available from a single
play of the game or device of not more than 10 times the amount
charged to play the game or device once or $5, whichever is less].
(9) "Thing of value" means any property, money, right,
privilege, or other benefit, including a representation of value
redeemable for any property, money, right, privilege, or other
benefit [but does not include an unrecorded and immediate right of
replay not exchangeable for value].
SECTION 2. Chapter 47, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 47.091 to read as follows:
Sec. 47.091. DEFENSES FOR CERTAIN AMUSEMENT DEVICES. (a)
It is a defense to prosecution under Section 47.02 that the conduct
consists entirely of playing or using a gambling device in which:
(1) skill is the predominant requirement for the
player or user to win or be awarded a thing of value for playing or
using the device; and
(2) the player or user may only win or be awarded as a
thing of value for playing or using the device:
(A) noncash merchandise available only on the
premises where the device is located; or
(B) a ticket, coupon, or other representation of
value redeemable only on the premises where the device is located
for noncash merchandise.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2):
(1) the value of the noncash merchandise or
representation of value redeemable for noncash merchandise won or
awarded for a single play of game on or use of a gambling device may
not exceed the lesser of a wholesale value of 10 times the amount
charged for the single play or use or $5; and
(2) the wholesale value of an item of noncash
merchandise won or awarded for playing or using the device or for
which a person may redeem one or more tickets, coupons, or other
representations of value won or awarded for playing or using the
device may not exceed $50.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 47.02 that
the conduct consists entirely of playing or using a gambling device
in which the player or user of the device may win or be awarded only
the opportunity to continue playing the game or using the device and
the opportunity is not exchangeable for another thing of value.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 47.03,
47.04, or 47.06 that the conduct consists of or is a necessary
incident to offering, using, or maintaining one or more gambling
devices used exclusively for conduct for which Subsection (a) or
(c) provides a defense to a person playing or using the device,
including manufacturing, transporting, storing, or repairing the
device.
(e) In this section, "noncash merchandise" does not
include:
(1) a check, money order, or cashier's check;
(2) a traveler's check; or
(3) any other item of cash equivalence.
SECTION 3. Section 2001.416, Occupations Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (e), a [A]
game of chance other than bingo or a raffle conducted under Chapter
2002 may not be conducted or allowed during a bingo occasion.
(e) A licensed authorized organization may exhibit and
allow patrons to play or use a gambling device described by Section
47.091, Penal Code.
SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Subchapter E, Chapter 234, Local Government Code;
and
(2) Section 47.02(e), Penal Code.
SECTION 5. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
before that date.
(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.