Play Meter

- SPECIAL FEATURE LAMOA hosts informative video poker meeting From left: Lt. Riley Blackwelder of the La. State Police, Brenda Lollar and Nick Putch of LAMOA. T he Louisiana Amusement and Music Operators Association (LAMOA) sponsored an informative day of video poker exhibits and two lengthy seminars on Nov. 13 at the Sheraton Hotel in Baton Rouge, La. One seminar included a record number of game manufacturers; another featured members of the La. State Police Video Gaming Division staff. Although manufacturers were not allowed to exhibit video poker machines at this time, many offered video tape presentations at their booths along with brochures outlining their game's features. Since the licensing process has not yet started, games were not permitted on the show floor. "Information overload" might be one way to describe the result of this hectic day of activities from Gil Pollock (r) of Premier Technology with Johnny and Charlene Hernandez of J&J Amusements in Monroe, La. the attendee standpoint. Said one longtime Leesville, La., operator, "I've got so much information I'm confused." The occasion was dubbed "premature" by some, who felt that it was too far away from a start-up date (mid-1992 is the current estimate) to gather all the interested parties together. Conversely, another segment of the operator population was grateful to have an opportunity to air their concerns while there v. as still time to have input in the proposed rules and regulations. Louisiana's Legislature passed House Bill 283 earlier this year to legalize video poker games in the state; then-Gov. Buddy Roemer let it pass into law on July 30. The La. State Police will be the regulatory body governing the ad- ministration of the games. The new law provides for central computer system accountability (housed at police headquarters); it has not been decided if a dial-up or an online system will be implemented. House Bill 283 was authored by Rep. Emile J. "Peppi" Bruneau mNew Orleans). After the extended session with the state police , Bruneau said, "I think we 've birthed a successful baby. From looking at the South Dakota experience, the central computer system is definitely the way to go. The locations, operators, and state all know exactly what's going on. It takes the possibility of human error out of it and avoids a horrible accounting problem. The legitimate operator, who accounts for everything, will love this system." Commenting on the fine crowd, PLAY METER LAMOA·l DECEMBER 1991