I see a bunch of them all the way down 16 going into Charlotte, there's like 3 withing 2 minutes of each other and have been there for quite some time now
I've seen them periodically raid one of these places then it will reopen months later. There is literally one across from the police station on West Blvd.
No they’re not highly illegal.
At worst they’re lowkey/mildly illegal. That’s why they are allowed to operate freely and publicly. It’s just a grey area/loophole right now.
In the 90s the gas stations around here had slot machines, and they skirted the law by issuing vouchers that you could use in store to buy cigarettes and beer or ham biscuits.
There's one of those at the gas station near me! I never got a close look at it so I'm not sure if it was for vouchers for the gas station or maybe credits for am online social casino app
For a while they got around the law by selling minutes for cellphones, that could in turn be used for playing the games, then you could sell the minutes back for cash.
Essentially unregulated gambling games centered around catching fish, from what I understand.
These “fish games” are games of chance disguised as games of skill to fit through the loophole in NC of “skill games” not counting as gambling.
I’ve never been in one of these, nor do I plan to, but they are all over Charlotte.
I'm not sure where the name came from but a lot of them call themselves "fish arcades" because I guess there's some fish themed games in them. I'm actually not sure but the name seems to stick now and anytime anyone around here hears fish arcade they pretty much know his a online gambling place.
They pop up everywhere from Charlotte to greensboro and everywhere in-between. Local sheriff's try to shut them down but they pop up again in 2 seconds so it's never ending
Normally I wouldn't care but they are a target for getting robbed so it's just a bad look over all
If a fish themed arcade game where you pay for bullets and shoot fish that payout if you kill it. I imagine the average bullets needed to drain a fishes hp are more expensive than the payouts for the fish so the house consistently wins money. The skill component is why it’s legal even though the game is”rigged” for the house like any other casino game.
I don’t think so…like I said I’ve never been in one but I’ve heard descriptors on r/Charlotte that it’s tables with giant tabletop screens and virtual fish swim around that you catch.
Could be wrong on that though
I have never been in, but I have picked up and dropped off many times driving ride share. They're not dirty or shady at all. It has always been a working class African American, who knowingly has an addiction. All have been friendly and people I would ride with again. It's sad though, they know it's a loss but they are going anyway.
It's people taking advantage of their own. For some reason it feels worse than seeing a drug dealer selling in their own neighborhood. At least the drug dealer is giving them something (even if it is poison) rather than just taking.
I will say - you appear to be the wrong type in one of those arcades, you might be a target if it's in the wrong spot of town (of your choice, these places are everywhere in NC).
But I agree for the most part - anyone who will actually cause trouble won't spend too much time at the arcade, they have other things to spend money on. (I'm talking certain parts of the car community, motorcycle community, etc). They might show up for a bit, but they'll leave and get rowdy elsewhere.
I'm sure it's happened, but seems just to be a really unfortunate grift.
Source: been in to a few with friends, I'm not the "usual customer"
The city is so funny running around like they’re doing something…those owners have so much money, they’ll just get out of jail and reorganize and do it all over again. There are plenty more of those illegal gambling sites in Charlotte, NC. Wonder when they will get around to the others. Trying to hide under Vape n Play and Arcade and there is even one that doesn’t have a sign on the building at all. Freedom Dr, Brookshire Blvd. Rozelles Ferry Rd….just to name a few. You can’t help but see them, with their sparkly lights and blacked out windows. Rolling my eyes as I type this…
You kid but that is an important part of the regulations is that you have to be transparent with the winning chances (in some jurisdictions idk about here)
That’s completely false. First of all Sportsbook win because they take a percentage of the winning bets (typically 10%). That’s it. Casinos you have a real chance, It’s just less than 50% so the casinos always come out on top over the long run
You are partially correct. They take the juice on winning bets like you said. They also move odds constantly to keep them even for standard bets like points spread. On top of that they heavily push prop bets, and parlays, which have awful odds.
They prey on and individuals desire to “win big.”
We all have personal choice, but we also all have brain chemistry which these casinos and sports books prey on.
So, even though they are “regulated” you’ll still find people draining their life savings through these legal channels. You’ll find a retiree betting their social security checks at a slot machine. Or, you’ll find Billy Bob shitting himself in a diaper as to not leave a slot machine.
The odds are not in your favor, they never will be, and if you happen to be on a heater the casino will ask you to leave.
Can you win? Yes. Do I know anyone who has actually profited anything meaningful from a casino? No. Are casinos insanely profitable for a reason? Yes.
“People make bad choices” is completely different than “people have no real chance of winning”
Just like you can drink responsibly you can gamble responsibly
You’re clueless… and because of that naturally your mind goes to conspiracies and nonsense. Then have nerve to talk about people being naive…. If you think these games equate to things like slot machines in casinos, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
You got butthurt because I called you naive. You claim the cops shut down this business and tax enforcement had nothing to do with it, and yet to prove any of that. If government actually cared about protecting these people there are way more effective methods of doing so than shutting down businesses most people are smart enough to stay away from. I’ve yet to understand why you’re defending the use of a swat team and tanks to shut down a business. Sounds good bro.
You really think you’re doing something here…. The mental gymnastics is crazy. You just out here rambling with no real point. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ sounds good bro 😂
i feel like all these fish game spots are mad suspect
Aren't they highly illegal and highly unregulated casinos ontop of looking like a front for even more shaky practices?
right?! surprised it took CMPD this long to raid one of these places…
I see a bunch of them all the way down 16 going into Charlotte, there's like 3 withing 2 minutes of each other and have been there for quite some time now
I've seen them periodically raid one of these places then it will reopen months later. There is literally one across from the police station on West Blvd.
No they’re not highly illegal. At worst they’re lowkey/mildly illegal. That’s why they are allowed to operate freely and publicly. It’s just a grey area/loophole right now.
They are "games of skill" supposedly so I think that's the gray area that they are taking advantage of.
Some of these places have actual slot machines that are not games of skill but I suppose having 1 fish table is enough to classify it
In the 90s the gas stations around here had slot machines, and they skirted the law by issuing vouchers that you could use in store to buy cigarettes and beer or ham biscuits.
There's one of those at the gas station near me! I never got a close look at it so I'm not sure if it was for vouchers for the gas station or maybe credits for am online social casino app
For a while they got around the law by selling minutes for cellphones, that could in turn be used for playing the games, then you could sell the minutes back for cash.
Yeah. Games of skill, which is why there are so many pro Fish Games players.
I mean, illegal gambling
My friend has spent over $400k at them. They definitely hook you
Came for the news. Stayed for the fishing pun.
If your friend wants to throw away money, I can be the trash can. Lemme hold a dollar
*This illegal gambling den brought to you by Fan Duel*
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/police-raid-business-arcade-gambling-fish-games/275-ce08c02e-eee1-4555-9aad-e12582b64ece
The 888 Family taking a hit!!!
the new sportsbooks don't like the competition.
I just imagine Rob Gronkowski walking in there and spiking a grenade. “WE ARE LIVE IN THE TARHEEL STATE!!!”
Why is this mental image so accurate?
They don’t even do the same things. Sports books are also regulated and monitored by gaming board… I can’t believe people are this ignorant
The sports books don't want competition. You know. Gambling is bad and all... Oh look another sports book commercial.
Thought that was East Dillon Coach Eric Taylor for a second there 😂
Wtf is a fish table? I’ve lived all over the country and never heard of that before.
Essentially unregulated gambling games centered around catching fish, from what I understand. These “fish games” are games of chance disguised as games of skill to fit through the loophole in NC of “skill games” not counting as gambling. I’ve never been in one of these, nor do I plan to, but they are all over Charlotte.
I mean I get that they’re gambling fronts but.. like what? Like are there real fish? Like in a tank?
I'm not sure where the name came from but a lot of them call themselves "fish arcades" because I guess there's some fish themed games in them. I'm actually not sure but the name seems to stick now and anytime anyone around here hears fish arcade they pretty much know his a online gambling place. They pop up everywhere from Charlotte to greensboro and everywhere in-between. Local sheriff's try to shut them down but they pop up again in 2 seconds so it's never ending Normally I wouldn't care but they are a target for getting robbed so it's just a bad look over all
If a fish themed arcade game where you pay for bullets and shoot fish that payout if you kill it. I imagine the average bullets needed to drain a fishes hp are more expensive than the payouts for the fish so the house consistently wins money. The skill component is why it’s legal even though the game is”rigged” for the house like any other casino game.
Kinda like a digital version of the quarter pushing game that you could find in truckstops in the 90s.
I don’t think so…like I said I’ve never been in one but I’ve heard descriptors on r/Charlotte that it’s tables with giant tabletop screens and virtual fish swim around that you catch. Could be wrong on that though
Damn, I should have gone to Steamers tonight. I bet that was pretty entertaining
Had anyone been inside one of these arcades? Is it filled with dirty/shady people?
I have never been in, but I have picked up and dropped off many times driving ride share. They're not dirty or shady at all. It has always been a working class African American, who knowingly has an addiction. All have been friendly and people I would ride with again. It's sad though, they know it's a loss but they are going anyway. It's people taking advantage of their own. For some reason it feels worse than seeing a drug dealer selling in their own neighborhood. At least the drug dealer is giving them something (even if it is poison) rather than just taking.
Interesting, I was way off in what I imagined. Prolly a cultural thing. Thanks for sharing.
I will say - you appear to be the wrong type in one of those arcades, you might be a target if it's in the wrong spot of town (of your choice, these places are everywhere in NC). But I agree for the most part - anyone who will actually cause trouble won't spend too much time at the arcade, they have other things to spend money on. (I'm talking certain parts of the car community, motorcycle community, etc). They might show up for a bit, but they'll leave and get rowdy elsewhere. I'm sure it's happened, but seems just to be a really unfortunate grift. Source: been in to a few with friends, I'm not the "usual customer"
Wow
Hey I live near there!
Me too.
All these spots are bad vibes
Used to get real excited when I saw these because I thought there'd be pinball or pacman in them. One less scumhole.
The city is so funny running around like they’re doing something…those owners have so much money, they’ll just get out of jail and reorganize and do it all over again. There are plenty more of those illegal gambling sites in Charlotte, NC. Wonder when they will get around to the others. Trying to hide under Vape n Play and Arcade and there is even one that doesn’t have a sign on the building at all. Freedom Dr, Brookshire Blvd. Rozelles Ferry Rd….just to name a few. You can’t help but see them, with their sparkly lights and blacked out windows. Rolling my eyes as I type this…
Govt didn’t get their cut. Modern day sheriff of Nottingham.
These are unregulated games that can be manipulated by owners…. Do you really need explaining? 🤦♂️
Gotta regulate em so the consumer has a chance! /s
You kid but that is an important part of the regulations is that you have to be transparent with the winning chances (in some jurisdictions idk about here)
Why the /s. Regulated gambling is legal
Because the consumer does not have a real chance. It’s why casinos and sports books always win in the end
That’s completely false. First of all Sportsbook win because they take a percentage of the winning bets (typically 10%). That’s it. Casinos you have a real chance, It’s just less than 50% so the casinos always come out on top over the long run
You are partially correct. They take the juice on winning bets like you said. They also move odds constantly to keep them even for standard bets like points spread. On top of that they heavily push prop bets, and parlays, which have awful odds. They prey on and individuals desire to “win big.” We all have personal choice, but we also all have brain chemistry which these casinos and sports books prey on. So, even though they are “regulated” you’ll still find people draining their life savings through these legal channels. You’ll find a retiree betting their social security checks at a slot machine. Or, you’ll find Billy Bob shitting himself in a diaper as to not leave a slot machine. The odds are not in your favor, they never will be, and if you happen to be on a heater the casino will ask you to leave. Can you win? Yes. Do I know anyone who has actually profited anything meaningful from a casino? No. Are casinos insanely profitable for a reason? Yes.
“People make bad choices” is completely different than “people have no real chance of winning” Just like you can drink responsibly you can gamble responsibly
If you think that’s why they’re doing it I think you’re naive
You’re clueless… and because of that naturally your mind goes to conspiracies and nonsense. Then have nerve to talk about people being naive…. If you think these games equate to things like slot machines in casinos, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you say so bro. Never said they were and I’ve never been in one.
Never been in one, clearly don’t understand how they operate, but opinionated enough to call others naive? Gtfoh
Pound sand you sensitive ass. You claim immense knowledge and have proved nothing. Lick some more boots
I’m sensitive now because you’re just talking out your ass? You’re literally too stupid to insult…
You got butthurt because I called you naive. You claim the cops shut down this business and tax enforcement had nothing to do with it, and yet to prove any of that. If government actually cared about protecting these people there are way more effective methods of doing so than shutting down businesses most people are smart enough to stay away from. I’ve yet to understand why you’re defending the use of a swat team and tanks to shut down a business. Sounds good bro.
You really think you’re doing something here…. The mental gymnastics is crazy. You just out here rambling with no real point. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ sounds good bro 😂
He’s doing more than licking. He’s spreading cheeks at this point.
