SEBASTIAN — Nine months after raids shut down nearly all of Willacy County’s game rooms, eight-liner arcades are coming back with a vengeance.
Recently, four game rooms opened in the Sebastian area, where there’s no county law to regulate them.
“They’re popping up like ping-pong balls,” Sheriff Larry Spence said Monday.
Eight-liner arcades have set up shop on Business 77, north of FM 506; on 506, west of Business 77; on 506, east of Business 77; and off Interstate 69, north of 506.
Eight-liner arcades are game rooms in which patrons play eight-liner machines resembling slot machines, with everything from flashing cherries to lucky 7s. Under state law, it’s illegal to operate eight-liner machines that award players with cash or merchandise valued at more than 10 times the price to play the machine, or $5, whichever is less.
The game rooms opened in the county’s unincorporated area, where there’s no ordinance to control them, Spence said.
“Right now there’s no regulation,” he said.
Spence said county commissioners need to consider an ordinance regulating eight-liner arcades.
“They’re going to have to do something to have some control over it,” Spence said.
County Judge Aurelio Guerra could not be reached for comment.
In October 2014, the county’s previous administration scrapped a proposed ordinance that would have set tough restrictions on eight-liner arcades after at least three county commissioners opposed the plan.
Meanwhile, two new game rooms have opened in Raymondville and Lyford.
Last week, Raymondville officials issued permits to Joe Rodriguez to open Power House Amusements at the Raymondville Plaza, said Olga Fadely, the city’s tax assessor-collector.
The game room becomes the only eight-liner arcade to operate in Raymondville, where police raided two game rooms late last year before two others closed following a tough amendment to a city ordinance.
Rodriguez bought permits to operate 50 eight-liner machines at the former site of the Silver City game room.
In Lyford, the city issued permits to Yolanda Tamez to open Horseshoe Entertainment at 9701 U.S. 77, City Secretary Lydia Moreno said.
Tamez bought permits for 110 machines at the site of the former Gonzalez Ballroom.
Just north of the Cameron County line, business is booming.
“You see all the cars and you know they’re making money hand over fist,” Spence said.
Months ago, a series of raids had appeared to clear out most of the county’s game rooms.
Last February in Lyford, authorities raided the El Toro Game Room, 9540 N. Business 77, and the Sizzling 7s, 7768 S. Business 77.
Now, both game rooms are back in business.
Last December in Raymondville, raids shut down the Sizzling 777 at 1105 S. Seventh St. and the Lucky Barn at 585 N. Seventh St.
The Raymondville raids led Silver City game room and the Silverado to close.
A month earlier, Raymondville city commissioners approved an amendment to an ordinance setting operation hours between 8 a.m. and midnight and requiring eight-liner arcades to be located at least 500 feet from churches, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods and other game rooms.
The ordinance also requires eight-liner arcades be marked as “game rooms,” leave doors unlocked and keep windows clear of tint and curtains.
Eight-liner arcades are game rooms in which patrons play eight-liner machines resembling slot machines. Under state law, it’s illegal to operate eight-liner machines that award players with cash or merchandise valued at more than 10 times the price to play the machine, or $5, whichever is less.
