Every person, who has in his possession or under his control, either as owner, lessee, agent, employee, mortgagee, or otherwise, or who permits to be placed, maintained or kept in any room, space, enclosure, or building owned, leased or occupied by him, or under his management or control, any slot or card machine, contrivance, appliance or mechanical device, upon the result of the action of which money or any other valuable thing is staked or hazarded, and which is operated, or played, by placing or depositing therein any coins, checks, slugs, balls, or other articles or devices, or in any other manner and by means whereof, or as a result of the operation of which any merchandise, money, representative or articles of value, checks, or tokens, redeemable in, or exchangeable for merchandise, money or any other thing of value, is won or lost, or taken from or obtained from such machine, when the result of the action or operation of such machine, contrivance, appliance, or mechanical device is dependent upon hazard or chance, and every person who operates or plays any such machine, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Code 1962, § 27-33)