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NEWS BULLETIN .,.. OREGON LOTTERY EXCLUDES OPERATORS ... On .,.. PINBALL HAPPENINGS IN BIG APPLE ... Some 500 pin ball afficionados from the Northeast, California, England , and Germany are expected to take part in the Second Annual International Professional Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) Championships, which takes place Feb. 1-2 in New York City. The celebrity guests will include New York Mets manager Jeff Torberg and members of the New York Giants. The event, which has added AAMA and Alpha-Omega Amusements as co-sponsors, boasts a top prize of $1 ,500 and a trip to the 1992 Pinball Expo in Chicago. Champions will be crowned in Men's, Women's, and Under-16 divisions. All proceeds will be donated to the Tomorrow's Children Fund and benefit the Cancer Care Unit at the Hackensack (N.J.) Medical Center. Nov. 25, the Oregon Lottery Commission unanimously voted to exclude coin machine operators and distributors from its video lottery program , which is projected to begin on March 30. It brings to an end a bitter controversy over legislative intent regarding video lottery implementation. (For more information and local operator comments, see this issue's "News" section.) The Oregon Lottery has selected Nevada-based International Game Technology to supply the central-site computer system for its video lottery program . The system will be on-line, with constant communication between video lottery terminals and the central computer. The lottery will lease video lottery terminals from manufacturers. Seven manufacturers submitted bids to supply terminals; the formal contract awards will be made in mid-January. According to Gary Williams of the Oregon Lottery, " If retailers (locations) have applications in by Jan. 21 and pass the disclosure checks, they will be approved for operation by March 30. This applies to everyone in the state; there is no allocation formula." A party wili be thrown after the finals at the Lone Star Roadhouse and include music by the World Famous Blue Jays and a lavish TexMex buffet. All this can be had for a tax-deductible entry fee of $10. "As pinball continues to grow in popularity, there is a real demand for structured play,'' said Steve Epstein, owner ofThe Broadway Arcade and PAPA president/founder. "Players need to know how good they are. The leagues and events like the PAPA Championships provide both a com petitive framework and a lot of fun ." .,.. SOUTH DAKOTA TAKES BIGGER SLICE . - . The sevenmember South Dakota Lottery Commission has again voted to raise the percentage of video lottery proceeds for the state from 25 to 35 percent as of Jan. 16, 1992. The lottery started at 22.5 percent in October 1989 when video lottery began ; the law provided for a range of from 15 to 35 percent. This is the second rate increase in South Dakota-it jumped from 22.5 to 25 percent on Jan. 1, 1991. For more information on the tournament , contact Epstein at (212) 247-3725. .,.. NEW GAMES SHIPPING .. . A flurry of new equipment is coming to market this month. Look for the Bar Brain , a 25-game-capacity countertop with 9" monitor from U.S. Games; the cabinet is all-steel with woodgrain sides. Konami debuts Turtles II, a sequel to the half-shell hero saga, available in kit or dedicated form . Star Mfg. introduces Beat the Pro, a tournament golf machine that vends golf balls to winners. Jaleco gears up for the dedicated video 8.0.IS.S., a planetary battle game featuring enemy warbots. SNK brings the fighting-themed Fatal Fury to market and Williams' new pinball Hurricane gets full distribution. More details on these and other products will appear in February's "What's New." .,.. AMOA-FLORIDA ELECTS OFFICERS - .. The recently formed AMOA-Florida has elected the following charter officers: Jules Ross of Grand Prix Arcade, president; Marion Paul of Walkin' Charlie's, vice president; and Bob Sciarrino of Gulfside Vending , secretary/ treasurer. For more information on the association , contact association coordinator Tammy Menzel at (904) 878-3134. .,.. JUKEBOX FEES REDUCED FOR '92 ... Jukebox operators will pay reduced license fees in 1992 because they've exceeded the revenue benchmark for 1991 . It's the second year in a row that this has been accomplished, according to a joint statement by AMOA and ASCAP, BMI , and SESAC, the three U.S. performing rights societies. The fees have only been lowered a dollar from last year in each category; still, a savings is a savings. Instead of paying $272 for their first jukebox, operators will pay $271 in 1992. Jukeboxes two through 10 carry a $51 fee ; over 11 costs $44. The Jukebox License Office, which administers the jukebox license agreement, will mail the new rate schedule this month to all operators who obtained license agreements during 1991 . For more information or license registration material, operators should contact the JLO, 1740 Broadway, 2nd floor, New York , NY 10019-4135; (800) 955-JUKE or (212) 581-0190. .,.. NORTHEAST DISTRIBUTOR UPDATE . .. Mondial Distributing Inc. officially opened its New England office in Norwood, Mass., on Nov. 22. It carries the the same coin-op equipment lines that are handled at Mondial 's offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Springfield, N.J. Mike Publicover is branch manager of the New England office, located at 342 Vanderbilt Ave. , Norwood, MA 02062. The phone and FAX numbers are (617) 769-9966 and (617) 769-0866, respectively. In other New England distributor news, New England Coin-Op has decided not to relocate to the former site of Rowe-Dedham in Dedham, Mass. It will remain at its current site in Norwood-232 Vanderbilt Ave. And R.H. Belam, which had announced a few months ago its intention to open an office in Dedham, has chosen to take a wait-and-see posture, says Belam's Vic Haim. The company will wait until the spring to make a final decision. .,.. JAROCKI OUT OF RETIREMENT ... The coin-op industry has been part of Stan Jarocki's life for many years, which makes it no surprise that his four-month retirement has come to an end . He's been named vice president of corporate planning for American Laser Games, the company that introduced Mad Dog McCree and Who Shot Johnny Rock? with Betson Enterprises. Jarocki, based at the company's headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., will be involved in marketing and game planning , among other things. .,.. COIN-OP CHANGES . .. Doug Wilson has left the sales force at Mondial Distributing in Pittsburgh. There was no word as to his future plans. Also, Coin Controls' Ellen Evans has departed to join General Binding Corp. in Northbrook, Ill. We wish them both well. .,.. NORTHEAST REGIONAL PLANS SET ... The 1992 Northeast Regional, a joint show staged by AMOA-NJ, AMOA-NY, and the New York State Coin Machine Association , will be held May 22-24 in Tarrytown, NY. Betson Enterprises' Joe Cirillo will be honored as the "Man of the Year" at a banquet on the 23rd. The expanded seminar program will feature Randy Fromm , who will conduct a three-day technical seminar at no cost to any member of the three sponsoring associations (or their employees). Spousal and family programs, including tours of local historical sites, are also being planned . Exhibitors will have the chance to show product in their hotel rooms (located in one section of the hotel), thereby reducing the cost of exhibit space. Larger conference rooms will also be set aside for exhibits. Call show executive director Karen Nagel or Frank Seninsky at AMOANJ, (908) 287-4990, for more information. The FAX is (908) 287-3079. PLAY METER MAGAZINE , January 1992, Volume 18, No. 1. Copyright 1991 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (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 Orlean s, LA 70184, USA. Phone: 504/488-7003 ; FAX (504) 488-7083. For subscriptions : 504/488-7003. Subscription rates : U.S. and Canada-$60. Adverti sing rate s are avail able upon request . NO PART OF THE MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION . The editors are not responsible for unsol icited man uscri pts. PLAY METER MAGAZINE 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 Orlean s, LA 701 84. PLAY METER 3 JANUARY 1992