Do beer nuts count as a meal?
Apparently not.
Problem is, there is so much conflicting info out there - who wants to risk tangling with the LCB vs. the governor’s edicts. Once they get you on their radar, they’re like rabid dogs. And the small venues don’t have the capital or legal means to fight back. They will swamp you with paperwork.
The WANT to shut places down. Makes them feel important, justifies their existence, and eliminates competition.
The competition is the casinos (vs. small games of chance) and the big chains (read: big donors).