In gas stations across San Antonio, people are playing digital eight-liners — gambling machines where, if they match symbols in one of eight lines, they might win a payout.
We asked a player how we get cash.
“I just get, like, the slip and they give me the cash or—”
“Yeah.” said a player we are keeping anonomus.
Some drivers we talked to are confused as to how eight-liners got in city gas stations, but don’t see them as much of a problem — instead seeing them as harmless as a lucky scratch-off.
“If they are gonna have them around, then they need to be taxed and send that money to schools,” said driver Angele Orellana.
But unlike rolling the dice on the lottery — gambling on these machines is illegal.
So how did they get here? Easy.
Stores claim the machines don’t give a payout — they’re only here for amusement, similar to a claw machine giving out non-cash prizes worth less than five dollars.
But District 5 Councilwoman Terri Castillo is not buying it.
“We have constituent services cases where residents have lost all their earnings on these eight-liner machines,” said Castillo.
And although SAPD is busting stores they find using them for gambling, there’s a problem.
“They’re overwhelming right now. You’re seeing them everywhere,” said Castillo.
According to her, the machines also bring crime to the gas stations they are at, encouraging people to linger.
It’s why this week Castillo requested the City Governance Committee pick a meeting date to discuss an ordinance banning them.
“To see what resolution they identify. Is it regulation in terms of zoning? Is it an outright ban? But this is something council will deliberate over,” said Castillo.
But attorney Joe Holsher says they also need to consider the officers on the ground who make sure businesses get the message.
“If they decide to pass an ordinance banning these, is that they also follow up on enforcement? Because that’s what has made state law ineffective in San Antonio,” said attorney Joe Holsher.
Castillo is trying to get discussion on the topic for the earliest available Governance Committee.
As of now, we will see when that is announced.