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NEWS BULLETIN ~ OREGON STILL STRUGGLING, .. After seven public hearings ~ (one of the largest was in Portland on Nov. 14), coin machine operators in Oregon were still awaiting a final decision as to whether or not they will be included in the Oregon Lottery's proposed video lottery program. While the hearings were in progress the lottery was obtaining bids from central computer system suppliers and negotiating to possibly lease video lottery terminals if a state-run program gets the go-ahead. At press time a decision had not yet been rendered. The hearings were scheduled after the state attorney general and the superintendent of police released a scathing report against coin machine operator and distributor involvement in video lottery. Among the eloquent spokesmen for our industry at the Portland meeting were Bill Rickett, president of Dynamo Corp. and AAMA; Bob Fay, executive vice president of AAMA; Rick Geraghty, president of OAMOA and Geraghty Amusement &Vending in Brookings, Ore.; and Sal Mirando, general manager of Premier Technology's Video Lottery/Gaming Division. AAMA recent:y made a significant contribution to the OAMOA to support operators and their efforts to gain approval of video lottery using local operators rather than a state-run system . AAMA believes this is a crucial decision that could set a national precedent on how other states view video lottery. Although optimism was running high after extensive testimony in favor of the coin machine community, the governor's legal counsel , Kerry ~ Barnett, also spoke and made it perfectly clear that the state felt it could handle a video lottery program all by itself. He delivered a fourpage document that constantly referred to "the most tightly regulated , security-conscious system in the world ." The coin machine community is totally committed to this as well , a fact that has never been recognized. Barnett sided with the report, saying, "The attorney general and the state police have determined that this middle level-private operators-is neither necessary nor advisable. We agree." Later he stated , "And it's perfectly legitimate to conclude-as they did-that ~ a system with operators poses more of a security risk than those without operators." . A total of 46 Oregon legislators have expressed their disapproval of state-run video lottery and are concerned for private industry and the small business operator. It is hoped that these legislators wi ll be able to convince the lottery and Gov. Barbara Roberts to be more open-minded about the method of video lottery adopted for Oregon. ~ ~ ARACHNID ADDS MCNAIR .. . Arachnid has hired Kevin McNair to be its director of sales and marketing for the newly formed gaming division. He comes to Arachnid with a degree in marketing/marketing research from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he is also pursuing his master's degree. McNair has worked in gaming for nine years, serving most recently as an independent marketing consultant. Prior to that he worked for United Gam ing Inc., Sigma Game, and the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel/Casino. GRAYHOUND ANNOUNCEMENT ... The following is a statement from Thomas Ricci , Grayhound Electronics chairman of the board : " We have good news. On Nov. 7, Grayhound reached a settlement agreement with the state of New Jersey. All charges against the company are to be dismissed. Management is glad to finally be able to put this matter behind us and is looking forward to our future entrance into the VLT market." BRACING FOR ANOTHER BATTLE IN S.C... . The South Caro- Knowing that the opposition is waiting for them has made operators work doubly hard durin g the off-season , Mims says. " We just completed the largest voter registration drive in the history of South Carolina," Mims said. "The record was 11 ,000 new v0ters signed up in one drive; we've signed up 16,000 people, and there are two weeks left to go. Election year is coming up, and those legislators do know how to count! That 16,000 includes operators, location owners, their employees, spouses, and people who p!ay the games. We targeted our people, not just anybody." Last session's Senate vote was 20-19, but Mims is confident that there will be a larger margin of victory in January. We'll have news on the outcome in the coming months. CHAPMAN JOINS SNK ... Jim Chapman , who's worked as a manufacturer's representative for Taito America and most recently Sega USA, has become the East Coast sales manager for SNK Corp. of America. He is based in the Chicago area. SNK has also promoted Tracy Tate to the position of national sales manager. He will handle West Coast sales and oversee all daily sales activities. ators are hoping to parlay a coalition with restaurant associations, bowling proprietors, and the "animal" clubs (El ks, Lions, etc.) into a successful video lottery push in 1992. New York State Coin Machine Association (NYSCMA) president Ralph Ceraldi of C & C Vending says outgoing assemblyman Lou Yevoli is serving as sponsor for a video lottery bill. It is in the process of being rewritten and will be steered th rough by another assemblyman after its introduction in January. Ceraldi didn't have any specifics regarding the bill's content, but it will use South Dakota as a guideline. "We're working with several lobbyists to try to get a bill passed ," Ceraldi said. "Operators have to realize that the state is going to do something with video lottery. The question is whether or not we're going to be included. It's very important; if the private sector is excluded , it will be very detrimental to our businesses." To help raise money for the video lottery effort, NYSCMA is holding a game auction at Syracuse Coin on Dec. 7. The first $75 ~f every machine auctioned will go to the association , with the remainder going to the operator who donated it. Ceraldi asks that the equipment be in good working order, clean , and without the coin mechs. For more information, contact Ceraldi at (516) 589-8111 or David Lerner at (800) 541-1142. lina Coin Operators Association (SCCOA) scored a legislative victory this spring, averting a state Senate attempt to outlaw video poker machines before the General Assembly's session ended. But SCCOA president Michael Mims says the anti-poker forces will take another crack at it when the Assembly convenes in January. " We're going to be the first issue that comes up in January," Mims said . "Their best shot at getting us was April , May, and June 1991 , and they missed. Both sides think that January 1992 is their last best shot; if they don't get us then , they probably never will." JALECO, MICROPROSE MAKE DEAL ... Jaleco USA and MP Game Technology (the former coin-op division of MicroProse Games) have agreed on a long-term deal for Jaleco to manufacture and market all coin-op games developed by MP Game Technology. The first game under this joint venture is 8.0.T.S.S. (Battle of the Solar System) , a robotic war game that will be manufactured in a sit-down cabinet. It will be released early this month in the United States and Europe and in January in Asia. MP Game Technology was spun off from MicroProse when the company went public earlier this year. MicroProse earlier developed and manufactured F-15 Strike Eagle, a flight simulator that soared in popularity during the Gulf War. " We have every intention to create and maintain a long-term relationship with Jaleco," said MicroProse chairman of the board Bill Stealey. "They have some great people over there. It will be an extended arrangement as long as it's mutually beneficial." The second Jaleco-MicroProse game is being developed and will be introduced at ACME '92 in San Antonio. ~ NEW YORK PURSUING VIDEO LOTTERY ... New York oper- ~ IT'S A GIRL ... Play Meter contributing writer Dave Stubblefield and his wife Laura welcomed a new member into their family on Nov. 14: Christina Nicole, weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. She joins six Stubblefield siblings. PLAY METER MAGAZINE, December 1991, Volume 17, No. 13. Copyright 1991 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (UPS 358-350) is published monthly, except for the two issues in January. Publishing office: 6600 Fleur de Lis, New Orleans, LA 70124. MAILING ADDRESS: PO. Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184, USA. Phone: 504/488-7003; FAX 504/488-7083. For subscriptions: 504/488-7003. Subscription rates: U.S. and Canada-$50. Advertising rates are available upon request. NO PART OF THE MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION. The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. PLAY METER MAGAZINE buys ALL RIGHTS, unless otherwise specified, to accepted manuscripts, cartoons, art work, and photographs. Second-class postage paid at New Orleans, LA 70113 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send Form 3579 to Play Meter, PO. Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184. PLAY METER 3 DECEMBER 1991