1346                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 617

"Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Gaming," to follow imme-
diately after Section 264A thereof, and to be under the new sub-
heading "Slot Machines," defining the term "Slot Machines," and
providing that it shall be unlawful to locate, possess, keep, main-
tain or operate such machines within this State, providing certain
exceptions as to those counties and municipalities wherein such
machines were licensed prior to the effective date of this Act, and
providing, as to such counties and municipalities, a limitation upon
the maximum number of such machines that may be located, pos-
sessed, kept, maintained or operated in any place of business, or in
any building, or upon any premises, and further providing for the
gradual and eventual total abolition by July 1, 1966 1968, of all slot
machines within this State, making non-compliance with the pro-
visions of this Act a misdemeanor, and relating generally to slot
machines and to their location, possession, keeping, maintenance or
operation within this State.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 264B be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition and 1962 Supplement),
title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Gaming," to follow imme-
diately after Section 264A thereof, and to be under the new sub-
heading "Slot Machines," and to read as follows:

SLOT MACHINES
264B.

Any machine, apparatus or device is a slot machine within the
provisions of this section if it is one that is adapted for use in such
a way that, as a result of the insertion or deposit therein, or placing
with another person of any piece of money, coin, token or other object,
such machine, apparatus or device is caused to operate or may be
operated, and by reason of any element of chance or of other outcome
of such operation unpredictable by him, the user may receive or be-
come entitled to receive any piece of money, coin, token or other object
representative of and convertible into money, irrespective of whether
the said machine, apparatus or device may, apart from any element of
chance or unpredictable outcome of such operation, also sell, deliver
or present some merchandise or money or other tangible thing of
value.

I.   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to lo-
cate, possess, keep, maintain or operate any slot machine within this
State, whether as owner, lessor, lessee, licensor, licensee, or otherwise,
except as provided in paragraph II hereof.

II.   In those counties and municipalities of this State wherein the
County Commissioners or municipal authorities thereof, prior to the
effective date of this Act, licensed such slot machines for operation
therein,

(A) After July 1, 1063 1965, it shall be unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation to conduct any place of business wherein is located
or kept, other than in a building or upon any premises used solely for
storage, a number of slot machines in excess of the maximum numbers
hereinafter set forth, and it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation to possess, keep or maintain, other than in a building or
upon any premises used solely for storage, or operate within any one