Have you ever walked into a gas station to grab a snack or a Gatorade, only to be baffled by a fellow shopper with glazed-over eyes, glued to a slot machine? Turns out, these machines have stirred up a lot of controversy – and even criminal investigations – in Texas, prompting a ruling from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Now San Antonio is trying to ban them altogether, eliminating ne’er-do-wells and legal loopholes.

Gas station slot machines, often labeled “skill games” or eight–liners, are essentially an effort to work around Texas’ anti-gambling laws. By law, these machines aren’t supposed to give out cash prizes, and any rewards won are supposed to be worth $5 or less. But companies have rolled out versions that they claim require some level of skill (for example, memorizing a series of numbers and repeating them). Paxton closed that loophole earlier this year.

Yet, they’re still commonplace at gas stations and corner stores across San Antonio and throughout Texas. Many places have been busted for bending or outright breaking these rules, and community members have shared stories with MySA suggesting the laws are being ignored in many places.

“I messed around and stuck $10 in and won $80 in a couple minutes,” one local told MySA. “I can definitely see how it could be super addicting.”

Others say they’ve won hundreds or know people who’ve won thousands. That’s concerning given the laws in place. Local law enforcement is cracking down on these illegal machines and their operators.

According to data obtained by MySA from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, six search warrants were issued, 11 business owners and staff were arrested and 32 citations were issued last year. Deputies confiscated more than 280 motherboards that year.

So far in 2026, deputies have acted on three search warrants, confiscated 140 motherboards, charged eight defendants and issued 13 citations. And it’s not just the Sheriff’s Office uncovering these rings operating outside the law.

“The San Antonio Police Department is aware of illegal gambling operations in San Antonio. This year, Detectives have located several gambling operations and seized over 200 machines in San Antonio,” a San Antonio Police Department spokesperson told MySA.

However, the criminal consequences are low. SAPD says violating the Texas Penal Code with these gambling machines is a Class C misdemeanor. While SAPD staff wasn’t able to say whether there’s been a rise or decline in illegal gambling in the city, they assured MySA that investigators continue to work these cases and track down illegal gambling operators.

San Antonio’s District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo is looking to rid the Alamo City of these illegal machines once and for all. Following in the footsteps of a handful of other metros, Castillo is calling for a clear ban on eight-liner machines.

“Despite ongoing efforts, the continued operation of eight-liners in San Antonio undermines both the intent of the state law and the city’s commitment to public safety and community well-being,” Castillo said in her City Council address calling for a discussion about the ban at the next Governance Committee meeting.

Four other City Council members backed and signed the call to action, including District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte, District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan and District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia.

But not everyone is against them. Many residents say the government should stay out of grown people’s spending habits, and others want to fully legalize gambling in the Lone Star State.

“I love the machines,” another resident told MySA. “We play ‘em all the time. I personally think if people want to gamble, then let them gamble. It’s not anyone else’s money to say what they can spend it on.”