Lottery news from http://wvgazette.com/
Despite initial grumblings, virtually all West Virginia Lottery retailers have complied with an order to remove “coin-pusher” machines from their premises, Lottery Director John Musgrave said Monday.
Last month, Musgrave ordered all Lottery retailers — including more than 1,700 limited video lottery parlors and nearly 1,700 traditional game retailers — to remove the machines by July 1 or face revocation of their licenses and possible criminal prosecution.
“The reports I’m getting back is that these locations have taken them out,” he said. “The report I got in a staff meeting this morning is that they’re disappearing.”
Musgrave said he had become concerned that the coin-pusher machines — where players drop in quarters in hopes of knocking coins, tokens or other prizes off of rotating shelves — were proliferating in convenience stores, bars and clubs, similar to the explosion of “gray” video poker machines in the 1990s.
Musgrave sent a letter to all Lottery retailers advising that the Lottery Commission determined that the coin-pusher machines fall under a ban on non-Lottery gaming machines.
Retailers had until July 1 to remove the machines, or face the loss of their licenses, as well as possible prosecution under state law for possession of illegal gaming tables or devices. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor punishable by two to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
“I’ve instructed our investigators to keep an eye out for them, and to report when they see them,” he said.
Retailers would have 10 days to comply with the coin-pusher ban, or file an appeal with the Lottery Commission, he said.
Prosecutors in the respective counties would also be notified of the violation of the law, Melton said, but it would be left to each to decide whether to pursue criminal charges.
While there are no initial indications of any violations, he noted that since there are only five traditional lottery investigators, it could be some time before they inspect all retail locations.
Melton said complaints about children playing the coin-pusher machines had been instrumental in the crackdown.
“The thing that mattered to the Lottery the most was not the competition, but the children playing the machines,” he said.
Musgrave said the coin-pusher machines had been more prevalent in Southern West Virginia locations.
John Melton, Lottery general counsel, said no investigators have reported any coin-pusher machines on the premises of Lottery retailers since the July 1 ban went into effect.
Investigators are to notify Melton of any violations.
At that point, Melton said, he would send out a certified letter notifying the retailer that his license is being suspended, pending a revocation hearing.
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