Full Notification

February 14, 2022

To: Local Business Owners of Rutherford and McDowell Counties
Re: Video Gaming Machines
Dear Local Business Owners,

     On February 11,2022 the North Carolina Supreme Court issued an opinion concerning the video sweepstakes machines currently being operate across North Carolina.  They held that electronic gaming machines are illegal under North Carolina law even if they require some ‘skill or dexterity’ input from the player.  If you are operating these machines in your business, please discontinue doing so.  Operating electronic gaming machines is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the first offense, a Class H felony for the second offense, and a Class G felony for the third and subsequent offenses.  While we will prosecute violations of this law, I do understand that a lot of businesses have been operating under the belief that these machines are legal and therefore am giving a seven-day grace period to give time to have these machines removed.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions.  I thank you for your attention to this matter.
 
Sincerely,
Ted Bell
District Attorney