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catching it from all sides Christopher Caire Features Editor PLAY METER Boy, isn't it a great time to be a street operator? About the only other jobs I'd rather have right now are economic a dviser to Yeltsin and spin doctor for NYPD Blue. Consider: • In Louisiana, our illustrious governor, Edwin (Fast Eddie) Edwards is rattling the cages again over video poker. It seems Edwards is terribly concerned that the machines are too accessible to Joe Six-Pack and , therefore, should be eliminated. Video poker "places the ability to gamble within easy reach of people going home from work who stop to have a beer," commented Edwards, who went on to suggest that the Legislature repeal the 1991 video poker law. Curiously , the protector of Louisian a's working stiffs didn't mention a building that will b e quite accessible-if it ever get's constructed: the huge casino at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans. Will there be banks of video poker machines in there? Of course, but those will be owned by Edwards' casino buddies. Never mind that Louisiana's small businessmen, the route operators , would watch their machine investments go up in smoke. Rep. Emile "Peppi" Bruneau of New Orleans, author of the video poker bill, doubts the Legislature will repeal the law. But he issu e d this warning : "Remain vigilant and prepared to fight for video poker at all times." • It appears that American subsidiaries of Japanese video game manufacturers are intent on revenue-sharing as a means of boosting sales. Said 218 AM OA immediate past president Craig Johnson , in an interview last month, "I don't know if revenue-sharing is going to take off, but several manufacturers are looking at it. They all see 15,000 to 20,000 units as being the sales ceiling in the United States, and they all want to crack that barrier, to get back to the era of placing 40,000 to 60,000 units." It must be maddening for the street operator. On one hand, he's encouraged to buy the latest and greatest video game from Manufacturer X. He does so, figuring the location will bug him to death anyway if he doesn't . Then, lo and behold, he finds out that Manufacturer X has placed the game in competing locations all around him. So much for fostering loyalty. • The Southland Corp., wishing to bring a new image to its 7-Eleven stores, is "strongly encouraging" its franchisees to consider removing video games. Southland says a survey indicates that loitering around the games is one of the main reasons potential customers stay away. This decision by Southland will devastate street operators with 7-Eleven acco unts. Harry P eck, this month's "Coinman Interview," says his company, Family Amusement Corp ., will eventually drop from 100 7-Elevens to about 20. In the worst-case scenario, he would have to lay off one-third of his employees. "I see this as a signal of the demise of the street operator," P eck said. "I'm very, very pessimistic about the industry as it is today and where it's headed. " Hang in there, street operat ors. Yours is a mighty cross to bear. Hopefully someone soon will throw you a rope to pull you out of the swirling waters. D NOVEMBER 1993