Wednesday, August 29, 2001
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Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
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McBroom joins chorus of DAs urging video poker ban in Ga. By JOHN
MUNFORD
Fayette County District Attorney Bill McBroom has joined other DAs throughout the state and Gov. Roy Barnes in the call to ban video gambling machines. McBroom says Georgia law forbids casino-style gambling, but loopholes exist to allow the existence of video poker and other similar gambling machines. Although the law forbids the use of cash prizes, some stores get around that by offering gift certificates to retail stores, allowing winners to purchase small items and receive the remainder of their winnings in cash, McBroom noted. McBroom and 16 other district attorneys, representing both Republicans and Democrats, met with Gov. Barnes last week to explain the problems the loopholes create in prosecuting video game machine operators. A bust of one local establishment using such games earlier this year only resulted in misdemeanor charges because of the legal loopholes, McBroom said. "It's a problem all over the state," McBroom said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation estimated there are over 15,000 such machines, and as many as 20,000 operating in Georgia, McBroom said. Game operators have resisted a request to end the prize handouts and reward winners with free games instead, McBroom added. The District Attorneys Association of Georgia is seeking a ban on all slot machines and machines used to play poker, blackjack, keno or any variation of those games. The association is also seeking a ban on any matchup or lineup game machine or device that requires the player to use skill stops to complete the game. A ban on giving any prize to winners other than free replays is also sought by the association. Monitoring establishments to determine whether they are giving out cash or gift certificates as prizes is an "insurmountable obstacle," according to Kenneth B. Hodges, president of the association.
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