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- -- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - NEWS BULLETIN ETIN BULL ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..The .The Red Red Baron Baron - Taito Taito case case became became aa case case centering centering on on the the legality legality of of parallel parallel boards when all three members of the lawsuit agreed to drop all ancillary charges and accusations boards when all three members of the lawsuit agreed to drop all ancillary charges and accusations with prejudice. This allowed the courts to decide, on the basis of a simple set of facts, whether with prejudice. This allowed the courts to decide, on the basis of a simple set of facts, whether parallel Double Dragon printed circuit boards are legal or illegal in the U.S. That decision came parallel Double Dragon printed circuit boards are legal or illegal in the U.S. That decision came down Aug. 31, the day of AAMA' s meeting in Chicago. That ruling declared that parallel Double down Aug. 31, the day of AAMA's meeting in Chicago. That ruling declared that parallel Double Dragon boards are legal. Though clearly a victory for Red Baron, manufacturers believe that it Dragon boards are legal. Though clearly a victory for Red Baron, manufacturers believe that it could be bad news for operators in the long run. Manufacturers feel that the parallel issue has could be bad news for operators in the long run. Manufacturers feel that the parallel issue has been widely exaggerated and that operators are more likely buying copied boards than actual been widely exaggerated and that operators are more likely buying copied boards than actual parallel boards. Parties to the suit realize that a parallel case, in its purest possible sense, was parallel boards. Parties to the suit realize that a parallel case, in its purest possible sense, was needed by the U.S. industry in order to stop the antagonism and hard feelings between operators needed by the U.S. industry in order to stop the antagonism and hard feelings between operators and manufacturers. The lawsuit against AAMA had been dismissed with prejudice before the and manufacturers. The lawsuit against AAMA had been dismissed with prejudice before the latest ruling; ruling; for for its its part, part, AAMA AAMA had had agreed agreed to to suspend suspend its its enforcement enforcement program program against against operators operators latest of parallel boards until the case was decided. Play Meter will have a full story with comments of parallel boards until the case was decided. Play Meter will have a full story with comments from both both sides sides in in the the next next issue. issue . from ...The The Mississippi Mississippi Attorney Attorney General's General's Office Office released released an an official official opinion opinion on on Aug. Aug. 31 31 which outlaws video card games such as Blackjack and Draw Poker, according to Jim Warren, which outlaws video card games such as Blackjack and Draw Poker, according to Jim Warren, special assistant assistant toto Attorney Attorney General General Mike Mike Moore. Moore. This This action action stems stems from from the the Office's Office's special of a Mississippi state statute as to whether these machines are gambling devices, per per interpretation interpretation of a Mississippi state statute as to whether these machines are gambling devices, of characteristics needed to be present to make a machine a se. Warren said a certain set se. Warren said a certain set of characteristics needed to be present to make a machine a "knockofffeature" feature" toto remove remove the the unused unused credits credits from from gambling device, device, per per se. se. These These include include aa "knockoff gambling the credit display meter, having an internal accounting mechanism, and a "retention ratio" that the credit display meter, having an internal accounting mechanism, and awhat "retention ratio"skill that ofthe the time, time, no no matter matter what the player's player's skill allows the the house house toto win win aa guaranteed guaranteed percentage percentage of allows the level. Warren said operators would be given roughly seven days from the 31st to remove these level. Warren saidtooperators would be given roughly seven days being from subject the 31sttotoseizure removeand these machines; failure failure to do so so isis aa misdemeanor misdemeanor with with the the machines machines being machines; do subject to seizure and ''a lot lotof oflegitimate legitimateoperators operators are are happy happy with with this this decision, decision, because because destruction. He He added added that that "a destruction. payoffs on the machines made it harder for them to compete.'' Meanwhile, Mississippi Coin payoffs on the machines made it harder for them to compete." Meanwhile, Mississippi Coin Operators Association (MCOA) President John Bell said: "I still say that they aren't gambling Operators Association (MCOA) President John Bell said: "I still say that they aren't gambling devices, per se. These video card games can be used as a gambling machine, just like a Pac-Man devices, per se. These video card games can be used as a gambling machine, just like a Pac-Man machine or pool table can be. You can gamble on anything you want to. Mike's opinion is that machine or pool table can be. You can gamble on anything you want to. Mike's opinion is that they're gambling machines, but I have opinions from previous attorneys general saying they they're gambling machines, but I have opinions from previous attorneys general saying they aren't." t." aren' . . . . ...WMS WMS Industries, Industries, Inc. Inc. and and Bally Bally Manufacturing Manufacturing Corp. Corp. announced announced that that WMS WMS has has of certain assets of Bally's amusement game completed the previously-announced acquisition completed the previously-announced acquisition of certain assets of Bally's amusement game engaged inin the the design, design, operations, for for aa purchase purchase price price of of $8 $8 million. million. WMS WMS Industries Industries isis engaged operations, manufacture, and sale of coin-op amusement games, as well as the ownership and operation of manufacture, and sale of coin-op amusement games, as well as the ownership and operation of hotels and and casinos. casinos . hotels Ohio Coin Coin Machine Machine Association Association (OCMA) (OCMA) isis mounting mounting opposition opposition to to aa bill bill being being . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..The .The Ohio Ohio Congressman Tom Luken, which, among other things, calls for banning the proposed by proposed by Ohio Congressman Tom Luken, which, among other things, calls for banning the of cigarettes in vending machines. "It would empower every state and municipality in the sale sale of cigarettes in vending machines. "It would empower every state and municipality in the or ban ban the the sale sale of ofcigarettes, cigarettes, the the advertisement advertisement of ofcigarettes, cigarettes, and and the the country to to regulate regulate or country promotion of cigarettes through sporting and cultural events," said Judy Martin, OCMA executive promotion of cigarettes through sporting and cultural events," said Judy Martin, OCMA executive "Luken is very anti-smoking. His bill would cause real problems for our membership, director. director. "Luken is very anti-smoking. His bill would cause real problems for our membership, of them them have have cigarette cigarette vending vending as as 50 50 percent percent of oftheir their business." business.'' She She added added that that because aa lot lot of because of the Sub-Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Material, was Luken, chairman Luken, chairman of the Sub-Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Material, was outof committee on Aug. 11. No further action will be taken until the unable to get the proposal unable to get the proposal out of committee on Aug. 11. No further action will be taken until the OCMA members members plan plan toto meet meetwith with Luken Lukentotowork work House reconvenes. reconvenes. In In the the interim, interim, Martin Martin said, said, OCMA House out a solution to the conflict. out a solution to the conflict. September1988/PLAY 1988/PLAYMETER METER33 September