Play Meter

NEWS BULLETIN .,.. GOOD NEWS IN LOUISIANA ... Louisiana has become the third state to legalize video poker games with coin machine operator participation. As we predicted , Gov. Buddy Roemer let the bill pass into law on July 30. The State Police, which will administer the program , has been granted a $3.9 million budget to fund a special division . Lt . Riley Blackwelder of the La. State Police was appointed to head up the new video poker division on Aug . 19. "Rules and regulations are our number one priority, along with the central computer system ," said Blackwelder the day after his appointment. "By the first of the year we expect to add 33 commissioned troopers and 10 employees in the areas of technical staff, auditors, and clerical." Blackwelder indicated that the new department would move quickly to implement the program , but cautioned that the time-consuming steps required could mean a spring or mid-year 1992 start-up. For more details, turn to the "' News" section on page 14. .,.. OREGON BANS GRAY GAMES; LEGAL GAMING CLOSER ... It's a good bet that Oregon will be the next state to legalize video gaming. In early August, Gov. Barbara Roberts neither signed nor vetoed a bill banning gray area games. It now becomes law, allowing the Oregon Lottery to implement video lottery (a power granted by law two years ago). An expected wrinkle is a constitutional challenge on one point: three percent of the net win from a video lottery would be directed toward treatment of "addictive behaviors." Stay tuned for more in our next issue. .,.. BAD NEWS IN IOWA ... Temper the excitement from Louisiana and Oregon; there's some ominous news coming out of the Hawkeye State. An electronic lottery experiment, set to start Nov. 1, is being initiated by the Iowa Lottery without amusement game operators. The one-year experiment will occur in 11 counties and include 1,000 video games of chance (half button models, half touchscreen)-all to be placed by a single source! Games will be located in "on premise" liquor-licensed establishments only. Details of the plan parallel those of video lottery programs: wagers from 25 cents up to $2, payback of 90 percent, and a maximum prize return of up to $1 ,000. One difference is an on-line system instead of dial-up. According to Iowa Lottery spokesman Bret Voorhees, "The Lottery Board has the right to conduct electronic lottery under the law authorizing the Lottery. The on-line system features constant monitoring with all the security and accountability associated with these terminals." GTECH Corp. will supply and maintain the machines; locations will be trained to replace ribbons and paper stock, as well as repair jams in the terminals. GTECH has licensed the terminal technology from Merit Industries. Locations that participate in the experiment will be required to sell either instant or pull-tab tickets. Net revenue (proceeds after customer payouts) will be divided this way: 55 percent to the Iowa Lottery, 30 percent to GTECH , and 15 percent to the locations. Iowa operators, who are understandably upset, met on Aug . 20 in Des Moines to discuss a plan of action. The meeting was well attended, as operators understood the seriousness of the situation. They have come together and undertaken a grass roots effort to send a message to legislators: this experiment will have a damaging effect on the local business community. AMOA president Jim Trucano agreed , saying , "This sets a terrible precedent. I feel that the small , independent business person who is already set up to service games in a particular area will be more efficient and effective in servicing video lottery terminals. If a state wants to maximize revenue it should realize that it's in their best interest to do business with coin machine operators already out there." Wally Bohrer of Hastings Distributing in Milwaukee, Wis., chairman of AMOA's Government Relations Committee, said that AMOA sent a letter on behalf of the national association explaining how this action deeply hurts Iowa members. He added: "It goes against something we've been doing for 100 years-providing hometown amusement games and music." Incoming AMOA president Gene Urso commented, "We have to watch this situation , because it could affect the whole United States. Operators had better organize in their states and make contacts with their legislators before a crisis arises. Small business is the bqckbone of the country. Small business can do a better job for the state than anyone else. It helps the economy from top to bottom." Look for an exclusive interview with GTECH in the October issue. .,.. MOVEMENT ON DOLLAR COIN ... On Aug . 2, the U.S. Senate " marked up" the Banking Reform Act and added a provision for its dollar coin legislation . Debate on the act is expected to take place on the Senate floor in mid-September, according to AAMA's Laura Olson . "We're glad to see it get out of committee, but there's still a long way to go," she said. Hearings on the House's dollar coin legislation , H.B. 1245, should take place in mid-October, Olson added. It's preferred because it does away with the dollar bill . The latest count showed 28 Senate and 189 House co-sponsors for dollar coin legislation. .,.. PREMIER-SMS DEAL OFFICIAL ... Premier president Gil Pollock confirmed that the deal between his company and SMS Mfg. has been finalized . Under the agreement, Premier acquires the video gaming assets of SMS, creating two distinct divisions: the Gottlieb pinball division and the SMS division . The latter will continue to be headed by Sal Mirando. The sales, marketing , and engineering functions will remain in SM S's hometown of Lakewood , N.J. Manufacturing of video lottery terminals will take place at Premier's facilities in Bensenville, Ill. .,.. AAMA TOUR UPDATE ... AAMA is finalizing plans for its five-city product tour of South America . The schedule is as follows: Oct. 29, Santiago, Chile ; Nov. 1, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Nov. 4, Sao Paulo, Brazil ; Nov. 7, Bogota, Colombia; and Nov. 10, Caracas, Venezuela. To make meeting arrangements, or for other information , contact AAMA , 12731 Directors Loop, Woodbridge, VA 22192; (703) 494-2758; FAX (703) 494-0616. .,.. ARACHNID READIES FOR 1991-92 TOUR .. . Arachnid will kick off its $145,000 English Mark Darts World Challenge ,of Champions tour for 1991-92 with a qualifying tournament in Jacksonville, Fla ., on Sept. 27-29. Sixteen qualifying regionals will take place over the next nine months in the United States, Canada , Spain , Germany, Belgium , and Australia. For more information , contact Arachnid , 6421 Material Ave., PO. Box 2901 , Rockford, IL 61132-2901 ; (800) 435-8319 or (815) 654-0212 (in Illinois). .,.. NEW REDEMPTION COMPANY AT AMOA ... For all of you AMOA show-goers focusing on redemption equipment, there's a new company to look for: Dynatech Industries, manufacturer of a complete line of cranes. They were on a waiting list for a booth at press time ; check when you get to the show to see which booth they are in . .,.. OPEN HOUSE ADDITIONS .. Here are a few more postAMOA distributor open houses scheduled for September: Atlas Distributing in Chicago, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ; American Vending Sales in Elk Grove, Ill., Sept. 20, 12-6 p.m. Previously announced open houses appear in the " News" section . .,.. AMOA COVERAGE ... In order to provide thorough coverage of the AMOA show, our October issue may arrive a tad later than usual. It'll be worth it, though , because we're going to have reports on all the new equipment, seminars, and social activities at the show. PLAY METER MAGAZINE , September 1991 , Volume 17, No. 10. Copyright 1991 by Skyb ird Publ ishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (ISSN 1048)(UPS 358-350) is published monthly, except for the two issues in Jan ua ry. Publ is hing 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 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, P.O. Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184. PLAY METER 3 SEPTEMBER 1991