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Judge Halts Kentucky’s Shutdown of Charitable Gaming Machines

The ruling temporarily halts the state’s shutdown tied to a reported “fishing” theft scheme.

Overview

  • A Jefferson County judge issued a temporary restraining order on Nov. 25 allowing electronic pull‑tab devices to keep operating, with a court session set for Dec. 8 to schedule further proceedings.
  • The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission had ordered nonprofits to disable machines from Light & Wonder and Creative Game Technologies following reports of thefts.
  • Operators described a “fishing” tactic using a laminated $100 bill on a line to trick bill acceptors into crediting more money than deposited.
  • Light & Wonder says it has deployed software updates to detect and block the exploit and is reactivating devices, adding the issue affected less than 1% of its Grover machines in Kentucky.
  • Shirley’s Way, the Southwest Center for the Developmentally Disabled, and Educational Justice sued, warning the shutdown would cut off primary funding, with Shirley’s Way estimating about 90% of its machines were affected.