AGMA evades video lottery stand
The Amusement Game Manu-
facturers Association (AGMA) is not
now opposed to video lottery
machines which use video games to
attract players away from amuse-
ment-only machines; but, according
to AGMA executive director Glen
Braswell , that ' s not because its
members' self-interests are appar-
ently in conflict with those of
operators and the rest of the
industry.
In Illinois, in an exclusive partner-
ship with the state's lottery commis-
sion, Chicago-based Bally Manufa<;-
turing Corp. (a member of AGMA)
is manufacturing and operating
video lottery machines which use
simplistic video game themes as
their attraction . Bally, however, will
not rule out using its copyrighted
games and characters at a later date
to lure players away from amuse-
ment-only games to its lottery
machines. (See related story this
issue.)
The operators ' national associa-
tion, AMOA , recently released a
position paper opposing state-run
video lotteries because they're
unfair and bypass the operator.
Another operator group, National
Coin Machine Institute, NCMI , has
also taken a similar position against
video lotteries.
AGMA 's Braswell acknowledged
that a group of operators directly
petitioned AGMA to take a similar
stand against video lottery games .
The operators, according to Bras-
well , claimed the machines are jeo-
pardizing their businesses.
But the association's executive
director downplayed the operators'
appeal, saying video lottery games
may have little, if any, effect on
amusement game operators. The
spokesman for the manufacturers'
association also dismissed operator
arguments against video lottery
games by contending many opera-
tors are illegally operating pseudo-
gambling devices and, therefore,
shouldn't be concerned with the
actions of video game manufac-
turers who operate state-approved
video lotteries- that employ video
game themes .
Braswell also said there was some
question whether operators were
posing a real industry problem or
merely trying to get the manufac-
turers' association to stop its
members from engaging in a
perfectly natural " competitive
(continu ed on pa ge 10)
AI Simon passes away
AI Simon
AI Simon , owner of U.S. Billiards,
Albert Simon, Inc., K-Enterprises,
and Royal Leisure, suffered a fatal
heart attack on his way to work
December 20. He was 75 . Still active
in his businesses, Simon had no his-
tory of heart problems.
After graduating from New York
University, Simon began his career
in the coin-operated amusement
industry over 50 years ago as an
operator. He then went on to design
games . His companies represent his
devotion to all segments of the
industry-manufacturing with U.S.
Billiards , K-Enterprises and an
interest in Stern Electronics ; dis-
tributing with Albert Simon ; and
operating with Royal Leisure.
Albert Simon Distributing was
the last distributorship to survive
Tenth Avenue , the hub of the
industry in the '30s through the '60s
in the New Jersey, Connecticut,
New York area.
Mel Kaufman of U.S. Billiards,
called AI Simon " a perfect gentle-
man to everyone in the industry. He
was more than just a boss, he was a
good friend."
He is survived by his wife Ruth,
daughter Randy, and sons Dick and
Bob.
Funeral services were held at
Guttermans in Woodbury, Long
Island and burial was in Farming-
dale, New York.
Dick, who, as president of U.S.
Billiards, has worked with his father
for years, will continue to run the
companies. Al's devoted friend and
employee, AI D'lnzillo, who was
with AI since the early days will
remain as general manager of Albert
Simon Distributing.
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