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N22 » BULLETIN VIDEO GAMING UPDATE: LOUISIANA AND ILLINOIS...On » SEEBURG GETS PARTNER... Financially strapped Seeburg July 18 Gov. Roemer of Louisiana signed a riverboat gambling bill into law. The verdict is still out on the bill to legalize video poker in the state, which passed both the House and Senate in early July. Sources indicate that the governor will “let it pass” into law. Louisiana’s video poker bill provides for a limited format of adult entertainmentonly three games per locationin Class A age-controlled, liquor-licensed locations only. “This is not ‘in your face’ gambling,’ said Bob Nims of A. M.A. Distributors in Metairie, La., one of the tireless workers for Louisiana’s bill. “We're going to regulate video poker and eliminate illegal gambling that now flourishes in the state. “Our bill was presented very professionally and without a lot of fanfare. | would recommend anyone else trying to pass legislative matters to approach it on a professional, high-level basis.” has received investment dollars from a Chicago company with no relation to the coin-op industry, according to Seeburg president Nick Hindman. He declined to name Seeburg’s new partner until the deal becomes official, which is imminent. In Illinois, hopes of gaining video lottery as part of the tax ed from vice president to president of Taito America Corp. revenue budget faded as the extended legislative session ended on July 18. The lllinois Coin Machine Operators Association plans to continue its education program directed towards legislators and expects the issue to return in the fall veto session. Budget cuts mandated for Illinois, including a change in the distribution of funds from a surcharge, will be difficult to accept. At least one legislator termed video lottery “the user fee of the future.” An ICMOA spokesman commented, “We've got good people working on this project. We do have a base of support; we just have to widen it.” For details on happenings in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Maine, turn to the “News.” CHANGES AT H. BETTI INDUSTRIES... Humbert S. Betti and Hugh J. Betti announced their resignations as chairman and president of H. Betti Industries, respectively, on July 2. However, they will continue their involvement with the company on a consulting basis. The Bettis have been members of the coin machine industry for over 50 years. They have overseen the company’s expansion from a small route operation in New Jersey to a world- wide distributor of coin machines through its distribution arm, Betson Enterprises, along with billiard supplies and coin machine parts through Imperial International. Some other changes have been made at H. Betti Industries. Peter Betti, president of Betson Pacific Distributing, has been Hindman added that Seeburg is producing jukeboxes on a limited basis, with full production slated for December. Though the company hasn’t reserved booth space for the upcoming AMOA show, Hindman says it may try to get a booth at the last minute if a decision is made to exhibit. CHANGES AT AMERICAN SAMMY AND TAITO.. Minoru Suzuki has been named president of American Sammy Corp. Suzuki, a former director of Taito Corp. in Japan, and most recently president of Taito America Corp., resigned his Taito positions on June 24. As announced at Taito’s recent distributor meetings in Chicago, Yoshi Suzuki has been promotINDUSTRY MOURNS KOVACH Forty-year coin-op veteran Joe Kovach of Active Amusement Machines in Scranton, Pa., died on June 26 at the age of 70. Kovach started his career at the Scott-Cross Co. and worked for the late Joe Ash in the early 1960s. When Active of Philadelphia was sold in 1984, Kovach bought the Scranton branch outright. His daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Angelo Merlino, are now managing the Scranton office. Stated Chris Vecchione, game sales manager for Mondial Distributing in Philadelphia: “Joe was very well known and respected. He was a good friend and customer of mine and | will miss his advice, his terrific sense of humor, and his generosity to both me and my wife.” Kovach will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends in the industry he loved. HAWAIIAN STREET FIGHTER Il TOURNEY SET... Hawaiian Brian's Billiards in Honolulu will stage a Street Fighter Il Tournament of Champions on Aug. 3, featuring play on Capcom’s hugely successful video game. | Hawaiian Brian's has a bank of 10 Street Fighter IIs, a phenomenon rarely seen in today’s video game market. The tournament champion will receive 2,000 quarters and a trophy. The top 12 finishers will all get prizes, too. There is a $5 registration fee, and tournament games will be on free play. For more information, contact Bernie Quintal at (808) 946-1343. appointed chairman and CEO. He will split his time between the two companies. Joe Cirillo has been promoted from H. Betti’s executive vice president to president and chief operating officer. He will have additional responsibility as a director of Betson Pacific. Robert Geschine has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer. He will continue to oversee the company’s administration and finances. And Robert Betti is the new executive vice president of operations. His duties will encompass redemption equipment, SApy] operations, and special projects such as Mad Dog cCree. In other news related to Betson, the company has entered into an agreement with International Game Technology (IGT) to represent that company’s line of video lottery terminals in states where Betson presently distributes coin-op equipment. HAIM JOINS JALECO...Bob Haim, formerly of R.H. Belam and Brady Distributing, has joined Jaleco USA as the director of sales and marketing. We'll have more information on Haim’s arrival next month. MUSICAL GROUPS FOR AMOA AWARDS SHOW ANNOUNCED... Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Tops will be the headlining acts for the AMOA Awards Show on Sept. 13, held in conjunction with AMOA Expo "91 in Las Vegas. The Awards Show will also feature the announcement of AMOA’s 1991 Jukebox and Games Awards winners. Other musical acts will perform at the show. We'll update the lineup next month. IT’S A GIRL!...Congratulations to Atlas Distributing’s Ed Pellegrini and his wife Wendy, the proud parents of baby Brittany, who was born on July 12. Ed notes that 17-month-old Kimberly is none too happy about all of the attention being paid to the latest arrival! Congratulations also to Cindy Bozman, manager of Reno Game Sales in Reno, Nev., and her husband Michael on the birth of their daughter Sarah Lynne. Born July 15 weighing ° Ibs. 6 0z., Sarah was welcomed into the family by big brother ric. PLAY METER MAGAZINE, August 1991, Volume 17, No. 9. Copyright 1991 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (ISSN 1048)(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. Secondclass 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 AUGUST 1991