Video slots
Two years ago, the General Assembly outlawed video poker. So when I heard about folks running "video slot machines" getting arrested I assumed they were just running old vid poker machines outside the law. It was not unusual in the old days of video poker for an ambitious operator to have a back room where a bunch of unregistered machines operated above legal limits.
But as it turned out, I was only partially right. For the lede of a story in Sunday's paper, I watched one player at a convenience store up on Lawndale Drive, and there was no back room involved:
According to companies that distribute the machines and software, he's playing a sweepstakes, a premium offered in exchange for buying a couple dollars' worth of long-distance service. Guilford County prosecutors agree and have dropped at least one case related to these video slot machines.But prosecutors in Rockingham County and state Alcohol Law Enforcement officers disagree, saying the machines are illegal and their owners should be prosecuted.
"They appear to fall squarely under the prohibition of a slot machine in the North Carolina statutes," said Alan Fields, the ALE supervisor for the region including Guilford County.
Two weeks ago, ALE agents raided several businesses in Rockingham County, charging 10 people with owning illegal slot machines or allowing their operation.
Some of those Rockingham County machines were little more than desktop computers with specialized software and a reader that can scan a prepaid phone card.
Others were retrofitted video poker machines.
Click here to read the full story.
This is, I imagine, a confusing environment for folks to operate in. One county lets you run the machines with impunity while the next county over, one can be busted for running them.
Florida's legislature is about take a swing at these things, and one wonders whether it will get on the radar of honorables here in North Carolina.
Comments (4)
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I watched one player at a convenience store up on Lawndale Drive, and there was no back room involved:* Mark
So Mark! How many free phone cards to Costa Rica did you win?
Posted on March 3, 2008 1:00 PM
Since a) I don't as a general rule enjoy gambling, and b) there's the possiblity that participating in these games might somehow be a crime: I didn't play. I did, however, buy a phone card which does appear to work for the promised long distance.
Posted on March 3, 2008 1:15 PM
The reason these machines are illegal is the fact that they PAY-OFF. You buy a phone card with $5.00 and you win $500.00 you get the cash. I know people that will spend there entire paycheck on a phone card and never make the first phone call, only to lose the entire amount paying video slot machines. These machines are illegal when they are paying off. Go ask the clerks at Sumner Curb Market, Randleman Road Business Center, another one behind Mrs. Winners all of these being on Randleman Road in Greensboro. I agree with the sheriff of Rockingham County, they are illegal. Just because they put a banner saying "Sweepstakes" on the front door does not make gambling legal.
Also, the pink, green, yellow and blue ball sheets are illegal and you can be arrested for having these. But J&S Jewelry Store on Randleman Road doesn't think so.
Posted on March 7, 2008 10:44 AM
So snowday,if you go to mcdonalds or where ever and get a Free game ticket and happen to win $500,000.00 I guess you wouldn't collect on it because its "illegal" to pay off in sweepstakes??Give me your winning ticket,I will gladly " redeem It".
Lottery tickets are illegal also because you can win $$$$$.Why the difference ?? What about the Cherokee Indian reservation,which has a whole casino on it??
The are all fun to me!!!
Posted on March 28, 2008 4:40 AM