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~········································ News Notes LOUISIANA GAMING GAMING REGULATION REGULATION UP UPIN INTHE THE AIR AIR Vv LOUISIANA With the passage of legislation authorizing singlegaming gaming With the passage of legislation authorizing aasingle number of questions regarding the commission in Louisiana, a commission in Louisiana, a number of questions regarding the regulation of video poker remain unanswered. State police offiregulation of video poker remain unanswered. State police offi- v AMOA AMOAREACTS REACTSTO TOPHILIP PHILIPMORRIS' MORRIS'CALL CALLFOR FORVENDING VENDINGBAN BAN V The Amusement and Music Operators Association has rereThe Amusement and Music Operators Association has sponded to Philip M01Tis' recent call for a ban on cigarette vendsponded to Philip Morris' recent call for a ban on cigarette vendingmachines, machines, saying saying the the move move is is aa "public "public relations relations ploy" ploy" that that ing will have a negligible impact on the purchase of tobacco prodwill have a negligible impact on the purchase of tobacco products by byyouth. youth. The The tobacco tobacco company company has has said said ititwould would agree agree to to ucts of proposed regulations on adverthe ban, as well as a number the ban, as well as a number of proposed regulations on advertising, ififthe the Food Food and and Drug DrugAdministration Administration isisnot notgiven giventhe theauautising, thorityto toregulate regulatetobacco tobaccoas asaaconsumer consumerproduct. product.U.S. U.S. Tobacco Tobacco thority hasjoined joined with with Philip PhilipMorris Morrisfor forthe theproposed proposedban. ban. has AMOAhas hasresponded responded with with aarelease releasesent sentto to consumer consumerpress press AMOA organizations, which which says says that that while while only only 1.4 1.4 percent percent of of all all organizations, cigarette sales are made through vending machines approxicigarette sales are made through vending machines approximately 80 80 percent percent of ofthe the trade trade association's association's members members operate operate mately 400,000 vending machines. Of those machines, an estimated an estimated 400,000 vending machines. Of those machines, over 91 91 percent percent are are located located in in age-restricted age-restricted locations. locations. The The ban, ban, over accordingto to AMOA, AMOA, would would eliminate eliminate some some 10,000 10,000 jobs jobs from from according predominantly small small businesses. businesses. Additionally, Additionally, AMOA AMOA has haslong long predominantly supported the use of lock-out devices as part of age restriction supported the use of lock-out devices as part of age restriction enforcement. enforcement. v TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENTVERSION VERSION OF OF GOLDEN GOLDEN TEE TEE 3D 30 GOLF GOLF IS IS HERE! HERE! Thelong longwait waitisisover. over. The TheInternational International Tournament Tournament System System The version of Peter Jacobsen's Golden Tee 3D Golf video game from version of Peter Jacobsen's Golden Tee 3D Golf video game from Incredible Technologies began shipping late last month with an Incredible Technologies began shipping late last month with an initial production production run run of of275 275 dedicated dedicated tournament tournament units. units. Since Since initial the system system debuted debuted at at AMOA AMOA'95, '95, aa series series of offive five successful successful test test the tournaments on on 24 24 prototype prototype units units were were conducted conducted in in the the tournaments Chicago area with the help of five local operators and American Chicago area with the help of five local operators and American Vending Sales. Sales. Vending According to to Michael Michael Hanson, Hanson, vice vice president president and and legal legal councounAccording sel for Incredible Technologies and the ITS team leader "We sel for Incredible Technologies and the ITS team leader: :"We learned quite a bit from players and operators while running the learned quite a bit from players and operators while running the tournaments." The The game's game's PC PC board board was was redesigned redesigned to to accomaccomtournaments." modate the the communications communications necessary necessary for for transferring transferring data data via via modate modem through a phone line. Memory was added to store more modem through a phone line. Memory was added to store more golfcourses courses and and all all of ofthe the tournament tournament statistics statistics sent sentto to the the ITS ITS golf each night. Other new features include a real-time clock, voltage each night. Other new features include a real-time clock, voltage monitor, and and flash flashmemory memorythat thatallows allowsmessages messagesand andgraphics graphics monitor, to be downloaded through the modem to the screen. The game to be downloaded through the modem to the screen. The game an extra deep control panel with a 25" monitor cabinet has cabinet has an extra deep control panel with a 25" monitor tipped at atan anangle, angle, custom customLED LEDdisplay displaysign signon ontop, top,and and pull-out pull-out tipped drawer system for easy access to all electronics. drawer system for easy access to all electronics. The first first national national tournament tournament will will run run June June 14-30, 14-30,with with over over The $20,000 in in prizes prizes awarded awarded to to more more than than 295 295 winners. winners. DistribDistrib$20,000 utorsscheduled scheduled to tohandle handlethe the first firstshipments shipmentsinclude includeAmerican American utors Vending Sales, Sales,Atlas Atlas Distributing, Distributing, Cleveland Cleveland Coin Coin Machine, Machine, PioPioVending neer Sales & Service, Shaffer Distributing, and World Wide Disneer Sales & Service, Shaffer Distributing, and World Wide Distributing. For more details, contact Incredible Technologies, tributing. For more details, contact Incredible Technologies, (847) 870-7027, 870-7027, or or Bulldog Bulldog Amusements, Amusements, (206) (206) 869-6400. 869-6400. (847) cials say say they they are are continuing continuing to to monitor monitor the the central central computer computer cials and perform routine regulatory activities. However, administraand perform routine regulatory activities. However, administrativeprocedures proceduresare arebeing beingput puton onhold holduntil untilthe thenew newcommission commission tive is seated. Former state appeals judge Hillary Crane has been apapis seated. Former state appeals judge Hillary Crane has been pointed to head the commission, which will oversee casino, pointed to head the commission, which will oversee casino, riverboat, and and video video gaming. gaming. AAlocal local option option referendum referendum on on all all riverboat, three forms of gaming is set for the fall. Separate commissions three forms of gaming is set for the fall. Separate commissions remainfor forthe theconstitutionally constitutionallyprotected protected forms forms of ofgaming, gaming,ininremain cluding lottery and horse racing. cluding lottery and horse racing. vMICRO MICROMFG. MFG.OFFERS OFFERSSPECIAL SPECIALSUMMER SUMMERPROGRAM PROGRAM Micro Mfg., Mfg., the the LaVergne, LaVergne,Tenn Tenn.-based manufacturer of ofthe the Micro .- based manufacturer Magical Touch countertop, has introduced a new factory financMagical Touch countertop, has introduced a new factory financfive or or 10 10 MagiMagiingprogram program that that allows allows operators operators to to purchase purchase five ing cal Touch machines in any cabinet style with no down payment cal Touch machines in any cabinet style with no down payment payment for for 120 120 days. days. The The 18-month 18-month plan plan transtransandno no other other payment and lates to to 15 15 payments. payments. lates In addition, addition, aa bonus bonus accompanies accompanies any any 10-machine 10-machine order: order: In ($500 total value). unique custom ad screen programs for free unique custom ad screen programs for free ($500 total value). The operator operatorsupplies supplies camera-ready, camera-ready,full-color full-color artwork artworkpromotpromotThe ing their company (logo, name, phone) and the factory scans it ing their company (logo, name, phone) and the factory scans it into the advertising screen shown during the game's attract into the advertising screen shown during the game's attract The screen screen isis rotated rotated among among other other user-entered user-entered ad ad mode. The mode. but needs no setup and cannot be removed. According screens screens but needs no setup and cannot be removed. According to Micro, in this way the machines help operators get new locato Micro, in this way the machines help operators get new locaavailable for for aa tions. AAhalf-price half-price custom custom ad ad screen screenprogram program isis available tions. five-machine purchase. Contact Micro, (800) 227-613 5 fo r five-machine purchase. Contact Micro, (800) 227-6135 for Aug. 31. 31. more information; infmmation;the the special special lasts laststhrough through Aug. more INDUSTRY BIDS BIDS FOND FOND FAREWELL FAREWELL TO TO LOU LOU SINGER SINGER Vv INDUSTRY He was was aa hard hard worker worker and and aa shrewd shrewd businessman businessman who who left left He an indelible imprint on the coin machine industry. Lou Singer, an indelible imprint on the coin machine industry. Lou Singer, ofCentral CentralDistributing DistributingininOmaha, Omaha,Neb., Neb.,passed passedaway away chairman of chairman May 15 after a long battle against leukemia. He was 74. Turn to May 15 after a long battle against leukemia. He was 74. Turn to "In Memory" Memory"(pg. (pg. 119) 119) for for aa an anoverview overviewofofhis hiscareer careerand and comcom"In fromhis hismany manyfriends friendsininthe theindustry. industry. mentsfrom ments FAMILIAR FACES FACESIN IN NEW NEW PLACES PLACES vv FAMILIAR A number of companies have announced personnel personnel appointappointA number of companies have announced Mary Hermanson to the the ments: Island Design has appointed ments: Island Design has appointed Mary Hermanson to ofmarketing marketingmanager; manager; Micro Micro Mfg. Mfg.has has named named Peter PeterCasas Casas post of post asits its marketing marketing director director for for the the Western Western region; region ;Mondial Mondial DisDisas tributing has promoted Mike Publicover to vice president of tributing has promoted Mike Publicover to vice president of the New England region ; Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties has the New England region; Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties has Saul Gamoran Gamoran as as executive executive vice vice president; president;Atlas AtlasDisDisnamed Saul named tributing-Chicago has has added added Joe Joe Franta Franta to to its its staff; staff; Capcom Capcom tributing-Chicago Coin-Op has appointed Satinder Bhutani as Western regional Coin-Op has appointed Satinder Bhutani as Western regional sales manager; Interactive Light Inc. has appointed Jeff Walker sales manager; Interactive Light Inc. has appointed Jeff Walker as chief chief operating operating officer; officer; Mars Mars Electronics Electronics Intl. Intl. has has named named as Frank Mars to be president of sales and marketing for the Frank Mars to be president of sales and marketing for the Americas and and Stuart Stuart Chambers Chambersto tobe be vice vice president presidentof ofsales sales Americas for the the United United Kingdom; Kingdom; and and new new company company and marketing marketing for and Creative Electronics and Software has promoted Ed Suchocki Creative Electronics and Software has promoted Ed Suchocki to vice vice president president of ofengineering engineering and and named namedJim Jim Ross Ross as asvice vice to of manufacturing. Look for more details on these president president of manufacturing. Look for more details on these announcementsnext nextmonth monthinin"Who's "Who'sNews." News."A A. announcements v CHANNEL CHANNEL "M" "M"MOVES MOVESINTO INTO FEC FEC ARENA ARENA Entertainment/ marketing company company Channel Channel "M" "M" isis involved involved Entertainment/marketing in a new project of nationwide turnkey promotional programs in a new project of nationwide turnkey promotional programs targeted to to family family entertainment entertainment centers. centers. Participating Participating centers centers targeted willreceive receive monthly monthly free free premiums, premiums,incentives, incentives,prizes, prizes,samples, samples, will coupons, and customized decorations. Providing guests with coupons, and customized decorations. Providing guests with high-end promotional materials materials isis designed designed to to add add to to aalocation's location's high-end promotional The company company has has in-store in-store video video channels channels in in 100 100 excitement. The excitement. game rooms around the country that air music videos, sports game rooms around the country that air music videos, sports highlights,bloopers, bloopers,cartoons, cartoons,and andother otherfeatures featuresthat thatattract attractcuscushighlights, tomers. To learn more, contact channel "M", (312)360-1300; tomers. To learn more, contact channel "M", (312)360-1300; fax (312) (312) 461-9142. 461-9142. fax PLAYMETER METER PLAY 33 JUNE1996 1996 JUNE