Welcome.
Fighting for Kentucky’s small business and non-profit organizations who use skill games to create local jobs, provide employee benefits, and support local communities.
STOP KY LEGISLATORS FROM PUNISHING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
Legal skill games help create critical Kentucky jobs and allow restaurants, bars, and fraternal organizations, to survive during tough times.
Now our small businesses need your help to survive.
Contact your legislator and tell them to protect legal skill games and support Kentucky small businesses.
Q&A
What is KYMAC?
Kentucky Merchant Amusement Coalition (KYMAC) is an organization comprised of retail establishments, clubs, and lodges that is committed to protecting small businesses and fraternal organizations in Kentucky. Our primary legislative focus is to protect our right to operate skill games that drive revenue for our businesses in challenging economic times. Additionally, we are seeking to pass legislation that would regulate these games and generate tax revenue for the Commonwealth.
What are skill games?
Unlike slot machines which rely on a game of chance, skill games require a player to use their skill, patience, and hand-eye dexterity to win. A patient, skillful player has a chance to win every time.
Are skill games legal in Kentucky?
Yes. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, games of predominant skill are legal under current law.
Are these games legal in other states?
Yes. In other jurisdictions with similar laws to Kentucky, skill games are also legal. In Wyoming, Georgia, and the District of Columbia skill games are regulated and taxed. In Pennsylvania, skill games were ruled a game of predominant skill in 2014 by a Pennsylvania court. That decision was not appealed by the commonwealth.
What is the economic impact of these games?
Skill games support Kentucky small businesses and fraternal organizations by providing additional revenue to supplement their traditional income base. For many businesses, these games have made it possible to recover from the income losses experienced during the pandemic, manage the increasing price of goods, and meet higher expected wages during the current labor shortage.
How do skill games specifically support Kentucky small businesses?
Skill games provide partners with 40% of profits with no hidden fees or additional costs. Another 35% goes to a local operator. Our Kentucky-based distributor also makes a percentage of the profit ensuring that over 80% of the revenue stays in the local community.
What impact do these games have on gambling entities such as HHR or the Kentucky Lottery?
Independent economic studies have concluded that skill games do not negatively impact lottery sales. Dr. Peter Zaleski, a partner at Meadows Metrics and an economics professor at Villanova University, has conducted exhaustive studies which found that in states where skill games operate, state lotteries have actually seen increased profits. In fact, even since the introduction of skill games in Kentucky in the first quarter of 2021, the Kentucky Lottery continued to break sales records for the 10th straight year — just recently announcing record sales again for the 2022 fiscal year.
Why are big gambling companies getting involved?
Simply put, they wish to create a monopoly. Although skill games are proven to have no negative impact on these companies, they will not rest until they are able to cut out any perceived competition. Legislation that would make skill games illegal puts the profits of large gambling companies operating across the nation over the needs of Kentucky small businesses.
What are the unintended consequences of legislation that intends to ban legal skill games?
A ban on legal skill games and other entertainment games would be far-reaching and include bans on games at state and county fairs, arcades, entertainment venues such as Dave & Busters, Chuck-E-Cheese, and E-sports. All of which are common revenue generators for businesses in Kentucky and E-sports are increasingly popular at state universities. Additionally, a ban would only increase the proliferation of illegal gambling devices in the commonwealth. For decades, illegal gambling, utilizing games of chance, has been operating in the background of the market.
OUR MEMBERS ARE GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Giving back to the communities in which we operate is an important part of the KY MAC mission. We not only contribute to the economy by protecting small businesses and supporting economic growth, but our members also give back through regular donations. Many of our members contribute to local causes including non-profits, community and fraternal organizations, and others.