The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that skill games - slot-like gaming machines combining elements of skill and chance - are illegal under state law. The ruling came in a 2-1 decision against No Limit Games, LLC, which had placed these sweepstakes kiosks in various small businesses across Robeson County.

The machines in question allow players to play a memory game after a losing spin to potentially keep their wager active. However, Judges Toby Hampton and April Wood determined that chance, not skill, ultimately determines the game's outcome, making the machines illegal under state law.

Judge Jefferson Griffin dissented, arguing that the skill elements make the games compliant with state law since players can potentially win every time through "adequate exercise of skill."

North Carolina's gambling laws are among the nation's most restrictive, only permitting:

• Charitable gaming
• State lottery
• Three tribal casinos (Harrah's Cherokee, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings Casino)

The state prohibits:

• Commercial casinos
• Sports betting
• Online gaming
• Parimutuel wagering

The state legislature is expected to revisit casino expansion when its 2025 session begins January 8. Previous efforts to authorize commercial casinos in rural counties faced significant opposition, particularly regarding exclusive rights proposed for Cordish Companies to build in Rockingham, Anson, and Nash counties.

Under North Carolina General Statute Section 14-306.4, any electronic device providing cash or prizes based on chance is prohibited, regardless of whether it's marketed as entertainment or amusement.

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