Gambling Ban Survives Chuck E. Cheese Challenge

The City of Goose Creek has banned sweepstakes parlors, a new venue for video gaming machines that cluttered gas stations across the state a decade ago before gambling on these devices was banned. 

Last week, the City Council gave final approval to the sweepstakes parolor ban, but not before fielding some complicated questions from residents wondering about the impact on everything from Chuck E. Cheese to World of Warcraft.

There are various business models, but many of these facilities have customers make a purchase or a donation upon entering the parlor, and they're entered in a sweepstakes. The customer has the opportunity to play a game, but operators claim that the eventual prize is predetermined and not impacted by the results of the game. 

The sweepstakes sites have raised alarms among local law enforcement, but court challenges in different parts of the state have resulted in wins on both sides of the issue, complicating the legality.

The other body complicating the issue: local residents who serve in the valuable role of devil's advocate on some issues. In this case, residents wondered how the new law would impact a business like Chuck E. Cheese, a kids pizza parlor and arcade that rewards gamers with tickets for prizes.

There aren't any plans for a Chuck E. Cheese in Goose Creek, but the city doesn't want to eliminate the opportunity in the future. Mayor Michael Heitzler said the this is about gambling machines, not arcade machines.

"I'm not in favor of any ordinance that would put the heat on Chuck E. Cheese," he said, suggesting its a cash prize that is troublesome. "I think gaming is OK, but if you put $50 in a Pac-Man machine and you win $50, that's gambling."

The council voted 6-1, with Marguerite Brown opposing the measure. She said she was worried about approving the ordinance with questions lingering. Councilman Mark Phillips noted that the city can amend the ordinance if there's a legal challenge to an arcade or other allowable business.

A S.C. Senate Judiciary subcommittee has approved a bill (S.1065) that would close a loophole for raffles and charities that allowed these machines entrance into the Palmetto State, according to bill author Sen. Larry Martin (R-Pickens). There is a similar bill in the House (H.4675).

If it is determined by the legislature or the state court that the parlors are legal, the Goose Creek ordinance would attempt to zone the parlors out of existence — limiting them to light industrial areas and banning any alcohol on the premises. 

The facilities are banned in Goose Creek, but the city will have to continue to monitor the issue. There are already two sweepstakes parlors on Red Bank Road, outside of city limits, and another sweepstakes parlor in a strip mall along River Road near Otranto.