Sec. 234.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Amusement redemption machine" means any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance designed, made, and adopted for bona fide amusement purposes that rewards the player exclusively with noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, or novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for those items, with a wholesale value available from a single play of the game or device in an amount not more than 10 times the amount charged to play the game or device once or $5, whichever amount is less.

(2) "Game room" means a for-profit business located in a building or place that contains six or more:

(A) amusement redemption machines; or

(B) electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivances that, for consideration, afford a player the opportunity to obtain a prize or thing of value, the award of which is determined solely or partially by chance, regardless of whether the contrivance is designed, made, or adopted solely for bona fide amusement purposes.

(3) "Game room owner" means a person who:

(A) has an ownership interest in, or receives the profits from, a game room or an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(B) is a partner, director, or officer of a business, including a company or corporation, that has an ownership interest in a game room or in an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(C) is a shareholder that holds more than 10 percent of the outstanding shares of a business, including a company or corporation, that has an ownership interest in a game room or in an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(D) has been issued by the county clerk an assumed name certificate for a business that owns a game room or an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(E) signs a lease for a game room;

(F) opens an account for utilities for a game room;

(G) receives a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance for a game room;

(H) pays for advertising for a game room; or

(I) signs an alarm permit for a game room.

(4) "Operator" means an individual who:

(A) operates a cash register, cash drawer, or other depository on the premises of a game room or of a business where the money earned or the records of credit card transactions or other credit transactions generated in any manner by the operation of a game room or activities conducted in a game room are kept;

(B) displays, delivers, or provides to a customer of a game room merchandise, goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the premises of a game room;

(C) takes orders from a customer of a game room for merchandise, goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the premises of a game room;

(D) acts as a door attendant to regulate entry of customers or other persons into a game room; or

(E) supervises or manages other persons at a game room in the performance of an activity listed in this subdivision.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1284 (H.B. 2123), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1170 (S.B. 866), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.