MT Code § 23-6-104 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 23. Parks, Recreation, Sports, and Gambling|Chapter 6. Amusement Games|Part 1. General|23-6-104. Amusement games allowed

  23-6-104. Amusement games allowed. (1) Crane games, as defined in 23-6-101, and the games described in subsection (2) may be made available for public play.   (2) (a) Fish pond (duck pond). The player catches a fish or other object floating in a pond of water by using a pole, hand, net, or string. All fish or objects are marked on the bottom, indicating the size of prize the player wins. The player is awarded a prize each time, and the player must be allowed to continue playing until a prize is won.   (b) Hoop or ring toss. The player tosses a hoop or ring over a target that must consist of bottles, pegs, blocks, or prizes. The operator shall specifically advise the player as to the degree that the hoop or ring must go over the target. All hoops of the same color used at an individual stand must be the same size. All targets used at an individual booth must be the same size, or the operator shall advise the player by posting signs or using color codes denoting the different sizes.   (c) Dart games. The target area for all dart games must be of a material capable of being penetrated and of retaining a metal tip dart. The target area must be in the rear of the stand and must be at least 3 feet but not more than 15 feet from the foul line. A target must be stationary at all times.   (i) Balloon (poparoo) (balloon smash). The targets are inflated balloons. The player throws one or more darts to burst a predetermined number of balloons. If the predetermined number of balloons are burst by the darts, the player receives the prize indicated.   (ii) Dart throw. The targets are various sizes and shapes located on the target area. The player throws darts individually at the target. A dart must stick in a predetermined target to win the prize as designated.   (iii) Tic tac toe dart. The target is a tic tac toe board located in the target area. The player throws darts at the target and wins a designated prize when the thrown darts line up in a row in the target. The darts may line up vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to win.   (iv) Add-um-up darts. The target consists of numbered squares located in the target area. Prizes are awarded based on the total score obtained by the player by throwing and sticking the darts in the numbered squares. A dart that sticks on a line must be thrown again. The player may add up the score of the darts thrown.   (d) Ball tosses. In all ball toss games, the balls used at a specific stand must be of the same weight and size. Targets must be of the same weight and size, or the operator shall color code the targets and advise the player of the difference in targets by posting a sign or providing a duplicate of the target showing the limitations or restrictions. The sign or duplicate target must be readily visible to the player.   (i) Milk bottle toss. The player tosses or throws balls at simulated milk bottles. The player wins by either tipping over or knocking bottles off the raised platform as designated by the operator. The bottles may be constructed of wood, metal, or plastic or a combination of the three. Operators may vary the number of bottles and balls used in each game. Floating or loose weights in bottles are not allowed. The weight of individual bottles may not exceed 7 1/2 pounds.   (ii) Milk can (Mexican hat) (cone). The player tosses a ball into the opening of a milk can, into a fiberglass Mexican hat turned upside down, or through a cone to win.   (iii) Football toss (tire toss). The player tosses or throws a football through a stationary tire or hoop to win.   (iv) Basketball toss/throw. The player tosses or throws a basketball through a hoop to win.   (v) Bushel baskets. The player tosses balls into a bushel basket mounted on a stationary backdrop at a fixed angle. The balls must stay in the basket to win. Rim shots are allowed, except the operator may designate the top 6 inches of the basket rim by color and disallow balls striking this area as winning tosses.   (vi) Cat-ball-toss (star/diamond toss). The player tosses balls into a simulated cat's mouth or a round, diamond, or star-shaped hole to win.   (vii) Ping pong toss. The player tosses ping pong balls into dishes, saucers, cups, or ashtrays floating in water. A predetermined number of balls must remain in the dishes, saucers, cups, or ashtrays for the player to win. The dishes, saucers, cups, or ashtrays must have water covering the bottom of the surface that is facing up.   (viii) Fishbowl game. The player tosses ping pong balls into a water-filled fish bowl to win.   (ix) Volleyball toss (soccer ball). The player tosses a volley or soccer ball into a keg-type container mounted on a stationary backdrop at a fixed angle. The ball must stay in the keg to win a prize. Rim shots are authorized as stated in subsection (2)(d)(v) for bushel baskets.   (x) Goblet ball (whiffle ball). The player tosses a whiffle ball into a target area of glass or plastic goblets. Located in the target area are colored goblets that determine the type of prize the player wins. At least 33% of the goblets in the target area must be winners. The ball must stay in the goblet to win a prize.   (xi) Break the plate/bottle. The player tosses or throws a ball at a plate, phonograph record, or bottle. The type of prize won is determined by the number of targets broken by the player.   (xii) Punk rack. The targets for this game are rows of dolls or cats on a ledge at the rear of the stand. The dolls or cats must be filled with sawdust, styrofoam, cotton, or other like material that provides a firm base for the ball to strike. The hair protruding from the side of the dolls or cats may not exceed 3 inches. The prize is determined by how many dolls or cats the player knocks over or off the ledge, as posted by the operator.   (xiii) Teeth game. The target consists of a large face with wooden teeth. The prize is determined by how many teeth the player knocks down by throwing a ball.   (xiv) Toilet game (doniker). To win, the player tosses or throws a ball or other object through a toilet seat located at the rear of the stand.   (xv) Coke roll. The player rolls a ball down an alley with the object of knocking over two coke bottles standing at the end of the alley. The player must tip over both bottles to win. Bottles must be placed on predetermined spots painted on the surface of the alley.   (xvi) Rolldown. The player rolls balls down an alley with the object of putting the balls in numbered slots at the end of the alley. The scores represented by the balls in each numbered slot are added up at the conclusion of the game. Scores above or below a predetermined score win. The alley surface must be smooth and free from defects at all times.   (xvii) Fascination (I got it). Fascination is a group game that involves competition among the players. The target area consists of 25 holes, and the player tosses or rolls a ball into one of the holes. The object of the game is to get five balls in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. The first player to accomplish this is the winner. Prize size is determined by the number of players participating in each game.   (xviii) Batter-up. The player uses a whiffle ball bat to swing and strike whiffle balls that are pitched at medium speed from a pitching machine. The player wins when the player hits a ball into the home run shelf. The home run shelf is located at the back of the batting cage approximately 15 feet from the player.   (xix) Sky bowling. Two bowling pins are set on predetermined painted spots on a shelf. A ball is attached to a chain suspended from a stationary support at least 6 inches to the right or left of the bowling pins. The object is to swing the ball, miss the pins with the ball as it goes forward, and knock the pins over as the ball returns.   (xx) Clown rolldown. A ball is tossed through the open mouth of a moving clown or animal head. The ball then rolls down a chute to numbered slots at the rear of the clown or animal head. The scores represented by the balls in each numbered slot are added up at the conclusion of the game. Prizes are awarded on the points achieved.   (xxi) Skee ball. The player rolls a ball up the mechanical bowling alley into targets. A computer adds up the scores, and the predetermined scores win.   (xxii) Speedball radar game. The player gets four balls and throws three balls through radar to establish speeds and to estimate at what speed the fourth ball will pass through the radar. The player wins a prize if the player accurately estimates the speed of the fourth ball. The radar must be mounted and stationary.   (e) Shooting games. These games are conducted by the player using a weapon of some type to shoot at a target in the rear of the stand. The safety requirements of local city or county ordinances must be observed by the operator and player. The target may be stationary or mobile.   (i) Short range (shooting gallery). In this game, the player is given four rounds to shoot at a spot target 1/4 inch or less in diameter. The player wins when the spot target is completely shot out, or the player is given five rounds to shoot one round each at five triangular, round, or 1/2-inch square targets. The prize is determined by the number of targets struck by the player, or the player is given five rounds to shoot one round each at five triangular, round, or 1/2-inch square targets. Within each target is a bull's eye. The player must hit the bull's eye without touching the outer surface of the target. The prize is determined by the number of bull's eyes correctly hit.   (ii) Shoot-out-the-star (machine gun). The player, using an automatic air pellet gun, is given 100 pellets to shoot at a star-shaped target. The player must shoot out all of the target to win. The star cannot be more than 1 1/4 inches from point-to-point.   (iii) Water racer. This group game involves a competition, with the player winning a prize based on the number of players competing. The player, using a water pistol, shoots the water into a target. The water that strikes the target causes a balloon to inflate or advances an object to ring a bell. The first player who bursts the balloon or rings the bell is the winner.   (iv) Rapid fire. This group game involves competition similar to the water racer game described in subsection (2)(e)(iii). The player uses an electronic pistol to shoot at a target. Hits on the target give the player a score. The first player to reach a predetermined score is the winner.   (v) Cork gallery. The player uses a cork gun or similar device to propel objects, including but not limited to corks, suction cup darts, or styrofoam balls, to shoot at targets located on a shelf or at a bull's eye target. The player must hit the bull's eye or knock the target over or off the shelf to win a prize. The prize is determined by the target knocked over or off the shelf, by the number of targets knocked over or off the shelf, or by the player accomplishing other tasks, as stated in the posted rules. When suction cup darts or other darts are used and fail to stay on or in the target, the player must shoot the dart again. The base of each target must be uniform, front and rear.   (vi) Boomball. The player uses a cannon with compressed air to propel balls into a target area. The targets have varied point value. If the ball remains in the target, a computer adds up the score. Prizes are awarded based on the points achieved.   (f) Coin pitchers.   (i) Spot pitch (lucky strike). The player pitches a coin at colored spots located on a table in the center of the stand. The coin must touch or stay inside of a spot to win a prize.   (ii) Plate pitch. The player pitches a coin onto a glass plate to win a prize as designated.   (iii) Glass pitch (bowl). The player pitches a coin into or onto dishes or glasses. If the coin remains in a top target glass item, then the player wins that item.   (g) Cakewalk. The players walk on a predetermined route with designated spots, and when the operator stops the walk, the player on a predetermined spot wins a prize.   (h) Miscellaneous games.   (i) Skill chute (bulldozer) (penny fall).   (A) The games in each of the following sentences require the player to insert a coin or token into a chute, aiming the coin or token so that it will fall in front of a continuous sweeper (bulldozer) operating on a playing field containing additional coins, tokens, or merchandise. A coin that is aimed correctly will cause a sweeper (bulldozer) operating on a playing field containing additional coins to push coins into a counting mechanism that will convert the coins into tokens or tickets and dispense them to the player. A token that is aimed correctly will cause a sweeper (bulldozer) operating on a playing field containing additional tokens or merchandise to push the tokens or merchandise into a hole or chute that sends them to the player. A token that is aimed correctly will cause a sweeper (bulldozer) operating on a playing field containing additional tokens to push tokens into a hole or chute that sends them to the player or pushes tokens into a counting mechanism that will convert the tokens into tickets and dispense them to the player.   (B) There may not be a ledge, tip, or similar obstruction that inhibits the passage of coins, tokens, or merchandise into the counting mechanism, hole, or chute.   (ii) Tip-em-up bottle. The player is provided with a pole and a string that has a hoop or ring attached at the end. The player, using the pole with a ring, must raise a bottle lying on its side to an upright position to win.   (iii) Hi-striker. The player, using a wooden maul, must strike a lever target that causes a metal weight to rise on a guideline or track and ring a bell. The player must ring the bell a predetermined number of times to win a prize.   (iv) Rope ladder. The player must climb up a rope ladder, which is anchored at both ends by a swivel, and ring a bell or buzzer to win a prize.   (v) Whac-a-mole. This is a group game that has a target surface with five holes through which animated moles pop up and down at random. The player must hit as many moles as possible with a mallet. The first player to hit a predetermined number of moles wins.   (vi) Dip bowling game. The player rolls a bowling-type ball over a hump in the track. If the ball stays on the back side of the hump, the player wins.   (vii) Horserace derby. This is a group game in which a player advances a horse by shooting or rolling a ball in the target area. The faster and more skillfully the player shoots or rolls the ball, the faster the player's horse will run. The first horse to cross the finish line wins.   (viii) Shuffleboard. The player pushes a puck down a shuffleboard alley to knock over poly pins at the end of an alley. The player wins by knocking down all the pins.   (ix) Bean bag. The player tosses or throws a bean bag or a simulated bean bag at cans, bottles, or other objects on a raised platform. The player wins a prize when the player either knocks the object off the raised platform or tips the target over.   (x) Soccer kick. The player kicks a soccer ball through a hole in the target area to win.   (xi) Frog game. A plastic frog or similar object sits on a small end of a teeter-totter. The opposite end of the teeter-totter is struck with a mallet, causing the frog to fly off the teeter-totter. If the frog lands in a pail or similar receptacle, the player wins a prize.   (xii) Cover the spot. The object of this game is for the player to drop five circular discs onto a circular spot, completely covering the spot. The diameter of each of the discs used to cover the spot must be a minimum of 64% of the diameter of the spot to be covered. The spot to be covered must be painted or drawn on a permanent, solid material, such as metal or wood, or may be a lighted circle. The spot and each disc must have a uniform diameter.   (xiii) Pocket billiards. Using a regulation pocket billiard table, a player must run a consecutive number of balls to win a prize. The number of balls is set by the operator.   (xiv) Other coin- or token-operated games of skill. The player inserts a coin or token into a mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical device manufactured for bona fide amusement purposes only that dispenses tokens or tickets based on the player's skill in operating the device. Games authorized under this subsection are limited to those involving a substantial degree of skill. A substantial degree of skill is present if:   (A) a player's physical or mental abilities play an integral role in determining the number of tokens or tickets accumulated during the play of the game;   (B) the number of tokens or tickets initially received by the average player would increase with repeated play of the game; and   (C) a player's precision, dexterity, or knowledge enables the player to obtain more tokens or tickets than would be received by a less precise, dexterous, or knowledgeable player.   (3) In addition to the amusement games allowed by subsections (1) and (2), the department of justice may adopt rules allowing games that may be operated at a fair or carnival and that meet the requirements of this part and may set and collect fees to offset the costs associated with review and approval.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 523, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 327, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 353, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 626, L. 1993.