BUFFALO — State officials have ruled that a slot-machine like game recently installed in hundreds of upstate bars is a gambling device and not legal in New York state.

Earlier this year, the State Liquor Authority’s general counsel cleared the way for Moxie Mania machines after determining it was a game of skill, not chance.

At a meeting of the State Liquor Authority in Albany Thursday, however, two of the three commissioners found just the opposite.

The third commissioner abstained.

Moxie Mania’s owners, the Pace-O-Matic Corp., have about 500 machines upstate.

Players can bet a quarter to $2 to play what is described as a lightning-paced and complicated version of tic-tac-toe.

A call to company president Michael Pace was not immediately returned.