(A) A MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE OR PINBALL MACHINE is hereby defined as a machine, which upon the insertion of a coin or slug operates or may be operated for use as a game of skill and amusement, and which contains no automatic pay-off device for the return of money, coin, checks, tokens or other merchandise, or which provides no such pay-off by any other means or manner; except that, this provision shall not prohibit the licensing of a machine which returns slugs which may be used only in the machine licensed and which itself does not constitute a gambling device.
(Prior Code, § 910.01)
(B) No person, firm or corporation shall own, operate, maintain, sell or keep for operation within the city, a mechanical amusement device or pinball machine as hereinbefore defined, without first having applied for and received a license thereof as hereinafter provided.
(Prior Code, § 910.03)
(C) Each owner and each operator or keeper of each individual machine or device shall make application to the City Clerk upon forms furnished by the city for an owner’s license or for an operator’s license. Every application for an owner’s license shall be accompanied by an annual license fee for each machine, the payment of the fee shall permit the placing of each machine in any business location in the city, except as limited hereafter. The owner shall receive, in addition to his or her annual license, one annual license tag for each machine that he or she is licensed to own, which tag shall, at all times, shall be displayed upon the machine in a prominent part thereof. Each operator in making his or her application shall specify the numbers, types and distinguishing characteristics of the machines for which he or she seeks a license. These machines shall be examined by a member of the Police Department and if they accord with the provisions of this section, the police shall then affix an annual license tag (which has been supplied to the owner) in a prominent visible place upon the machine and the tag shall remain so affixed to the machine during the term of the license. The fee for a license is provided for in Ch. 110 of this code of ordinances.
(Prior Code, § 910.05)
(D) Every application for an operator’s license shall be accompanied by an annual license fee, which the operator is licensed to keep in his or her place of business. The operator’s license shall be plainly displayed upon the wall of his or her place of business. License fees shall be paid in full in advance with the application; except that, fees for licenses for which application is within the last five months of the license year shall be one-half of the license fee specified herein.
(Prior Code, § 910.07)
(E) No license shall be transferable as to the person or as to location. Upon revocation or lapsing of any license, no refund shall be made of any portion of the license fee. Any owner holding an owner’s license may transfer any machine owned by him or her upon which the appropriate tag is prominently affixed from one licensed location to another within the city.
(Prior Code, § 910.09)
(F) No person, firm or corporation shall permit the operation of any such machine or device for making of side bets or gambling in any form. No prize, award, merchandise gifts, money or anything of value shall be given to any player of such mechanical machine or device, except as herein provided.
(Prior Code, § 910.11)
(G) The City Council may grant or deny any such application and if granted, the license may be revoked by the City Council at any time, with notice and a hearing to the licensee.
(Prior Code, § 910.13)
Penalty, see § 114.99