Beaumont is one step closer to potentially banning 8-liner gaming machines after a heated and emotional Planning Commission meeting May 19 drew a standing-room-only crowd to City Hall. With dozens of business owners in attendance, only one spoke publicly in defense of the machines. In the end, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend amending the city ordinance to ban all game rooms and 8-liner-style gaming machines within city limits.
Local attorney Scott Renick, representing corner stores and small family-owned businesses, said his clients have made significant investments to comply with the city’s gaming ordinance.
“These are business owners who want to continue to invest in our city and provide this revenue to our city,” said Renick. “We are completely against any change to the ordinance.”
Renick emphasized that, while gaming machines aren’t the foundation of these businesses, 8-liners provide a crucial source of supplemental income, especially for small stores in underserved areas.
“It would create hardship for my clients if the gaming machines were banned,” he added, stating there is no concrete evidence showing gaming sites have caused increased crime.
Despite Renick’s remarks, most public speakers urged the commission to take action against the machines. Don Dodd, publisher of The Examiner, recounted decades of concerns about the impact of 8-liners on the community.
“They’re casinos — the convenience stores know they’re casinos,” said Dodd. “I’ve seen clerks pay out cash money to winners… and for the city to allow it to continue, they are being complicit in criminal behavior themselves for taxes. If you’re going to do that, let’s tax the drug dealers, tax the prostitutes, let’s tax crime.”
Francis Graham also voiced her opposition.
“It brings crime; it’s bringing our economy down; it’s bringing the look of our neighborhoods down,” she said. “I'm asking you to vote against it. We need them out of our neighborhoods.”
Wilma Adilow added that allowing gaming machines to remain operational prioritizes profit over people.
“Gaming machines in convenience stores disproportionately target working-class areas, creating an environment that often leads to increased crime, gambling addiction, and economic hardship,” said Adilow. “By loosening restrictions, we are prioritizing short-term financial gain over long-term community stability.”
A key moment came when Planning Commission Chairman Dr. Sina Nejad asked businessowner Mohammad Arshad to comment on how much revenue the machines generate.
“Basically, it would pay off an employee’s wage,” Arshad remarked to Nejad’s pointed response: “So, basically, you’re not losing anything if these machines aren’t there.”
Arshad pushed back slightly, explaining that small stores are already struggling.
“Some of the owners are working themselves because they are barely making it,” he said. “Taxes go up… population is not increasing in Beaumont.”
Beaumont Police Chief Tim Ocnaschek addressed questions of public safety and crime related to game rooms. He shared that the volume of calls ranged from none at some locations to over 1,200 at others. However, he cautioned against drawing a direct connection between gaming machines and increased crime.
“The ability to tie a specific crime to whether it had to do with gaming is not something we can do,” said Ocnaschek.
Before calling for a vote, Nejad expressed skepticism about the economic value of the machines to the broader community.
“I asked the gentleman what kind of economic impact they have to the community… they don’t apparently make any money off these, so we’re not going to hurt a whole bunch of people losing their livelihood,” said Nejad. “There’s neighborhood opposition, and we all know this is not putting a whole bunch of money in there to get $5 toys.”
The Planning Commission ultimately voted unanimously to approve a recommendation to amend the city’s ordinance to ban all gaming machines within Beaumont. The Planning Commission’s recommendation will now be forwarded to Beaumont City Council. While the issue was not placed on the May 20 meeting agenda, it could come before the council as early as the first meeting in June.
The city’s first gaming ordinance was adopted in 2014, followed by a zoning amendment in 2018 to restrict site locations amid concerns over crime. In 2024, further enforcement measures were added. The decision now rests with City Council, which must weigh legal precedent, economic realities and public sentiment as it determines the fate of gaming machines in Beaumont.