Three Chess Challenge II video gaming machines were seized Saturday in a 10-county sweep of about 500 businesses.

The search followed a week of wrangling over the legality of the machines and came one day after State Law Enforcement Division officials said the machines were subject to seizure.

Two Chess Challenge II machines in Horry County and one in Lexington County were seized, said SLED Chief Robert Stewart.

Authorities seized two Chess Challenge I machines in Greenville County, he added.

A few weeks ago, there were about 2,000 Chess Challenge II machines in the state, Stewart said. Saturday’s search didn’t reflect that.

“They began leaving the state over the last few days,” Stewart said. “It appears there was a mass exodus.”

In October, a state circuit court judge had ruled the device was legal and banned police from seizing any Chess Challenge II machines in the state. On Monday, the S.C. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether to overturn the video gaming case from Allendale County.

The justices also set a Friday deadline for Castle King, the company that markets the game, to present written arguments to the court. The court issued a temporary order Friday, overturning the October ruling.

After Monday, SLED began receiving calls from businesses asking if the machines would be seized, Stewart said.

“Obviously, in anticipation of possible Supreme Court action, the businesses chose to remove their machines rather than risk losing their investment,” Stewart said.

Reach Gonzales at (803) 771-8405 or jgonzales@thestate.com.