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N EWS BULLETIN . L.A. RIOTS HIT COIN-OP INDUSTRY .. . The riots that ensued in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict did not spare coin-op businesses located near looting activity. Ira Bettelman and Peter Betti , presidents of the C.A. Robinson and Betson Pacific distributorships, respectively, say many of their operators either had their offices or location accounts hit by looters, with damage being done to the property and/or equipment . One such victim was Family Amusement Corp. "We're located on Vermont Avenue, which was at the center of the rioting," said the company 's David Peck. "Luckily our plant and large amusement center weren't hit, but locations like 7-Eleven to the north and south of us were burned, and games were stolen. We lost about $150,000 worth of equipment, not to mention the lost cash flow for that week. Collections were totally dead for everybody in the area, not just us. It was a devastating time; I just hope it's over." Peck, to his horror, witnessed video camera footage of games being hauled out of ?-Elevens before the stores were set ablaze. Among the equipment stolen were pinballs and five or six brand-new Street Fighter II, Champion Editions. " We're very aggressive operators; we operate a lot of late-model equipment," he said. " Unfortunately, we were the first ones to have Street Fighter Champs out everywhere, so we got hit the hardest on them. Most of the games we lost were late-model games." Peck adds that his company does have some insurance coverage. "There is a deductible per location, and we're in the midst of negotiating that right now,'' he said . As for C.A. Robinson , Bette Iman says the facilities were threatened by looters but managed to escape without any damage. "I was out of the country, so (brother) Sandy was in charge of the fort , so to speak," he said . "We were fortunate not to incur any damage, because they definitely tried to break into our place. If it wasn't for the vigilance of our residential neighbors, who reported that they fired some shots and scared away the looters, you would've had a hard time getting us on the phone today." Betson Pacific, located along with C.A. Robinson on West Pico Boulevard, was also spared destruction. "From a lost business standpoint, the rioting did affect us, but in terms of physical damage to the property, we didn't experience any," said president Peter Betti . "We're lucky, because our building is rather fortress-like; we have a fairly high roof and not much in the way of exposed windows." Betti says most locations have insurance for theft or fire, so those operators affected should be able to receive some type of recovery from their locations. "The only ones who might have a problem are operators with 7-Elevens, which are self-insured" he said. "They say they're not covering game damage because it was civil unrest, as opposed to normal theft or fire." . TROUBLE BREWING IN SOUTH DAKOTA ... Over 12,000 signatures were recently gathered to put a referendum (Initiated Measure 4) on the ballot this fall, asking voters to revoke video lottery. The overwhelming positive economic impact from VLTs in the flagship state makes it difficult to believe such a measure could meet with voter approval. . LOUISIANA VIDEO POKER UPDATE ... At press time, three Louisiana race tracks were to have the first legal video poker games in operation on June 1. According to the La. State Police, The Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Jefferson Downs in Kenner, and Delta Downs in Vinton (near Lake Charles) are approved locations for the first units. The program goes statewide in liquor-licensed establishments and truck stops on July 1. Eleven manufacturers have passed suitability requirements along with game testing procedures at Gaming Laboratories International, and were at the remote testing site to check communication with the central system . These companies have been allowed to ship one of each device model to their distributorship for demonstration purposes; as many as four devices may be set up for 10 working days of service training, a requirement in the rules and regulations. A total of 20 distributors have met suitability requirements. Approximately 600 locations have applied for licenses, as well as seven service entities and 135 device owners. Of special note: the establishment packet (considered a stumbling block to applications) has been shortened . Now excluded , in the establishment packet only, are the personal history record and personal financial questionnaire; all other attachments and disclosures still apply. . ILLINOIS CONTINUES TO PURSUE VIDEO LOTTERY ... Although House Bill 3387 stalled in committee, Senate Bill 1758 is viable; hearings were to be held in late May. The Illinois Legislature will be in session until June 30 pondering these major issues: a third airport for Chicago, a push for casinos in Chicago, video lottery, and property tax caps for Cook County. Two significant documents, scheduled for a June 1 release, could influence the outcome: an economic impact study of video lottery conducted by the University of Chicago, and a report by the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission on the impact of new forms of gaming, including video lottery. The state association , ICMOA, has a positive outlook . Said executive director AdonnaJerman , "We want to be sure that all the legislators understand that this (video lottery) means not only revenue to the state but jobs for operating companies, locations, manufacturers, and supply companies in our state. We forecast 2,500 new jobs in the manufacturing end alone." Three VLT manufacturers are headquartered in Illinois and there are at least 100 supplier companies that provide game components, from monitors to cabinets to computer chips. ICMOA has fostered an intensive letter writing campaign to inform legislators of video lottery benefits for the entire state. . KANSAS VLT BID UNSUCCESSFUL ... It was thumbs-down on Senate Bill 695 in Kansas when the Legislature adjourned May 9, concluding the wrap-up session . The Kansas Automatic Merchandising Association's television blitz in April resulted in an outpouring of public support for video lottery. Yet in the final hours opposition from G.:Yech , the state's lottery supplier, sank the bill. " We were four votes short the first time and that was as close as it got in three tries," said Randy Chilton of Chilton Vending in Wichita. He feels this was the best chance for passage of video lottery so far. What about the future? "We have to stay there," declared Chilton. " Operators don't have an option . We have to protect our interests. We gave it a hell of a run and will probably do so next year." . MISSOURI FIRST-YEAR VLT BILL STOPS IN SENATE ... The Missouri legislative session ended in mid-May without addressing a number of significant measures, from mass transit to video lottery. Election-year legislators apparently hesitated to deal with anything of a weighty nature. According to Jerry Nissenbaum of MAMO, "We were on the move ever since January because our bill earmarked proceeds for education . It passed the House but never reached the Senate floor." Undaunted, the association and those who worked diligently for the bill will meet at the end of June. Said Nissenbaum, "We're heartened by what we've accomplished this first year." . GAMES CONFISCATED IN IN DIANA ... Police raids in early May resulted in a large number of amusement machines being removed from the street in the southern part of Indiana; no arrests have been made. The state's coin-op association, IAMO, has discouraged gray area game operations by adopting a resolution (effective since April 1) that bars any members arrested and convicted of any gambling offense from the group. Non-members found guilty of such charges would not be considered for membership. Said Darrell Felling , executive director of the association: "We went on record long before this raid, stating that we did not condone gray area operations. Members have been urged to disassociate themselves from this type of operation ." . AMOA EXHIBIT SPACE SOLD OUT . .. All 742 booths for AMOA Expo '92 have been sold as of mid-May, nearly five months before the show in Nashville (Oct . 1-3). Companies that want to be on an exhibitor waiting list must have their exhibit application and deposit on file at AMOA headquarters. Some 175 companies have already reserved booth space. PLAY METER MAGAZINE, June 1992, Volume 18, No. 7. Copyright 1992 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE (UPS 358-350) is published monthly, except for the two issues in January. Publ ishing 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. Subscription rates : U.S. and Canada-$60. 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. Second-class postage paid at New Orleans, LA 70113 and additio nal mail ing offices. POSTMASTER Send Form 3579 to Play Meter, P.O. Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184. PLAY METER 3 JUNE 1992