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NEWS BULLETIN .- AAMA, AMOA MEET IN CHICAGO . .. Representatives from the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) and the Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) met in Chicago on June 13 to, primarily, discuss the possibility of holding a joint Washington Conference in 1992. AAMA was represented by Bob Fay, Bill Rickett , and Rick Currie. The AMOA side consisted of Jim Trucano, John Schumacher, Wally Bohrer, and Gene Urso. " Romstar is proud of the job it did with the Neo-Geo one-slot, but it's time to move on to other projects," said a Romstar spokesman. "Although we can't be specific about what we're working on , we can assure the industry that it will be something welcomed ." .- PLUGGED BACK IN ... In this month's "Coinman Interview" with South Carolina's Michael Mims, he reported that on May 31 , the state's operators banded together and unplugged all of their video poker machines. They also held their license fees in abeyance. Their action stemmed from attempts in the state general assembly to repeal a statute that legalizes operation of the machines. " It was an upbeat meeting,'' said Fay, AAMA's executive vice president. "We're sending AMOA our proposal for staging some form of joint meeting in Washington next year. Our feeling is we're going to be in town together, we're going to be up on Capitol Hill together, so why not at least have the Congressional Reception together? AMOA is going to review our proposal and get back to us in about three weeks. However, on June 6, the day the General Assembly was due to adjourn, it voted not to entertain any more repeal attempts during the session. So, on June 7, the machines were plugged in and operators paid their license fees, worth $30 million to the state. "I'm optimistic that AAMA and AMOA can put aside the infighting that's been going on in recent years and begin working together again. It's time to move forward for the good of the entire industry. We're firmly committed to doing that, and I think AMOA is, too." "Things are back to normal ," Mims said . "At least we're safe until they meet again in January 1992. This is the fourth year in a row that they've tried to repeal the statute. But we've never been this organized in the past. There was plenty of grass roots support this year:' Schumacher, AMOA's executive vice president, had no comment on the meeting. To read more about this situation and other goings-on in South Carolina, turn to page 77. The two associations also discussed the possibility of AMOA cosponsoring some AAMA charitable activities, which include: . LA. VIDEO POKER BILL . .. On June 25 the Senate Judiciary • Lending financial assistance for the U.S. Special Olympics, which takes place this month in Minneapolis. Also, AAMA member Steve Lieberman will set up a game room at the event. • Sponsoring an educational brochure for the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, which will point out the hazards of lead poisoning to parents. • Creating a coin-op amusement "Olympic Fund-Raising Day," with the proceeds from the cash box going to the U.S. Olympic Fund. .- N.Y.C. OPERATORS TO FILE LAWSUIT ... Operators in New AAMA and the American Amusement Machine Charitable Foundation (AAMCF) currently lend support to some 34 charities nationwide. "We're ready and willing to co-sponsor AMOA's charities as well ,'' Fay added. In other news concerning the associations, they will fund a study by George McCandless, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, that focuses on the economic effects of a dollar coin and the accompanying removal of the dollar bill from circulation . It will address several questions raised in last year's General Accounting Office report, which says that introduction of a dollar coin would lead to $318 million in annual federal budget savings. Results of the study will be released in time for hearings on H.R. 1245, the "U.S. One Dollar Act of 1991," scheduled for late September. "We expect to find the amount of savings to the consumer and the effect on inflation,'' said AAMA president Bill Rickett. "This study will be a complete economic analysis and should give added weight to the argument that introduction of the dollar coin w111 benefit all sectors of the American economy." Said AMOA president Jim Trucano, "We hope that this study will assist us in the passage of the dollar coin bills. The entire coin-op iniustry will benefit from AAMP\s and AMOP\s sponsorship of this study." . )NK, ROMSTAR AGREEMENT OFF ... SNK Corporation of :l.merica has cancelled its sales agreement with Romstar for the sales .md marketing rights to the Neo-Geo one-slot kit. It encompassed the U.S. and Canadian markets. "We appreciate the fine effort that Romstar has made in launching the one-slot kit for us," said SNK president Paul Jacobs. " However, at this time, with the de-emphasis on our NES business, SNK Corp. of America is positioned to devote its energies full time to the sales and marketing of all coin-op Neo-Geo products. We feel our distributors will be better served knowing that Neo-Geo products will be available exclusively through SNK." C Committee voted to send H.B. 283 to the full Senate. Louisiana's bill had stalled for three weeks after passing the House. The new progress can be attributed to a one-year-only state fee of 22.5 percent on total wagering. The Legislature adjourns July 9. York City are going ahead with litigation against the city, hoping to overturn a tough anti-cigarette vending ordinance. Robert Herman, president of AMOA-NY, says research done by the national law firm of Fullbright, Jaworski, Revis & McGrath indicates that they would have a "good chance" of overturning the law. "We tried lobbying, we tried negotiating, we tried reconciliation-none of that worked ," Herman said. "Hopefully this litigation will be successful. We would also like to get a temporary restraining order to block implementation of the law in January 1992." The ordinance bans cigarette vending machines everywhere except bars. They must be in the line of sight and cannot be within 25 feet of a doorway. Herman is hopeful that cigarette manufacturers Philip Morris and RJR will lend financial assistance, because the litigation is certain to be quite expensive. . AAMA TO TOUR SOUTH AMERICA ... AAMA executive vice president Bob Fay and Dynamo's Mark Struhs, chairman of the AAMA Foreign Business Development Committee, will embark on a product promotion tour of South America in late October. They-and possibly other AAMA members-will spend two or three days in each of the following cities: Santiago, Chile; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bogota, Colombia; and Caracas, Venezuela. This " Foreign Business Development Program" is scheduled for Oct. 28-Nov. 10. While in each city, AAMA will host a reception for operators, distributors, and individuals interested in investing in the coin-op amusement industry. The respective American embassies will assist AAMA with the receptions, which will be held in conjunction with business meetings. A slide show presentation and other promotional materials will be featured at the meetings. "We hope this tour opens up some business channels in South America for our members,'' Fay said. "We're trying to create interest in their coming to San Antonio for ACME to discuss further business." A more detailed agenda will appear in next month's issue. For more information on the South American tour, contact Fay at AAMA headquarters, 12731 Directors Loop, Woodbridge, VA 22192; (703) 494-2758; FAX (703) 494-0616. PLAY METER MAGAZINE , July 1991 , Volum e 17, No. 8. Copyright 1991 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (I SSN 1048)(UPS 358-350) is publ ished monthly, except for the two issues in January. Publishing office : 6600 Fleur de Lis, New Orleans, LA 70124. MAILING ADDRESS : P.O. 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. 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