|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||
|
Local News - August 2002 |
||||||||
|
Pickens calls for video poker ban By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer August 7, 2002 - Lincoln County Sheriff Barbara Pickens joined 99 sheriffs from across the state last week in urging the General Assembly to ban video poker machines in North Carolina. Pickens said that since video poker laws went into effect, there have been six to eight cases of unlawful use in Lincoln County. South Carolina banned video poker machines two years ago, and the number of federally registered machine owners who have moved from South Carolina to North Carolina has tripled. More than 10,000 machines are registered with the state. There are many machines that are not registered at all. Pickens said one Lincoln County store had a machine that took in more than $64,000 during a 10-month period. “There is a lot of money put into those machines,” Pickens said. The problem, Pickens said, is that despite all the money going into the machines, very little is actually coming out. “I don’t think there’s any way for them to win,” she said. “They are not fair to the average citizen.” Current law limits the payoffs for video poker players to a prize not exceeding $10 in value. Pickens said she is concerned with the people who grow addicted to the machines. “We’ve had a lot of complaints from citizens who have family members who are addicted to these machines,” Pickens said. “There are people who go every week, people who go every day.” The Senate voted to ban video poker across most of North Carolina, and now the bill is before the House of Representatives for consideration. All 100 North Carolina sheriffs signed a petition in support of the ban. Pickens said it was a big statement for the sheriffs to come together. “We stand united against the machines,” Pickens said. “We don’t want it (video poker) in North Carolina.” According the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, law enforcement officials report problems in identifying and confiscating illegal machines. It is also difficult to identify machine owners who offer payoffs in cash. The Sheriff’s Association estimates that it costs taxpayers several million dollars each year to attempt to enforce current laws. “I’d be very pleased if the General Assembly will outlaw these machines,” Pickens said.
|
||||||||
|
© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
||||||||
|
|