--Press Release from Sheriff Butler--

Video Gaming Machines

Cumberland County, NC; Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler has been given the responsibility by North Carolina legislators to administer the new video gaming law that goes into effect on October 1st. The law, general statute 14-306, will require that ALL video poker-type machines located in Cumberland County be registered with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff is asking the media for assistance in informing the public about the new law as the penalties for non-compliance can range from misdemeanor to felony charges and or destruction of the video poker machines.

To date, several companies and individuals have met with representatives from the Sheriff's Office to initiate the registration process, however only a few forms have been received. The deadline for submittals will be September 30th at midnight of this year.

By definition, a video gaming machine is a "slot machine" or other form of electrical, mechanical, computer or video card playing device. Examples include video bingo, video craps, video Keno, video Lotto, Eight-liner, Pot-of-Gold or any video playing game based on or involving the random of chance matching of different pictures, words, numbers, or symbols and is not dependent on the skill or dexterity of a player. A video gaming machine also requires deposit of any coin, token, or use of a credit card or debit card.

Requirements for the new law are listed below. This is not a complete list but just the ones that affect the registration.

• No later than October 1st, 2000, the owner of any video gaming machine regulated by this law shall register the machine with the Sheriff of the county where the machine is located using a standardized form supplied by the Sheriff. The registration shall be signed under oath by the owner of the machine. A material false statement in the registration form shall subject the owner to seizure of the machine under G.S. 14-298, in addition to any other punishment imposed by law.
• A video gaming machine to be legal in the State of North Carolina must have been listed in this state by January 31, 2000 on the owners ad valorem taxation for the tax year 2000-2001 and lawfully in operation and available for play within the state of North Carolina on or before June 30, 2000.
• Prohibit more that three (3) existing Video gaming machines at any one location. A location is defines as a permanent building within an exterior wall. There is an exemption for this ruling for machines that were in operation before June 30, 2000.
• Locations with video gaming machines must have these games in plain view of persons visiting the location.
• It is unlawful to advertise the operation of video gaming machines by use of on-premise or off-premise signs.
• A location with Video gaming machines can not be within 300 feet of another other location with Video gaming machines.
• A video gaming machine can not be able to bet or risk more that 8 credits on any one (1) play.
• A video gaming machine can not pay out cash from the machine.
• A player of a video gaming machine can not be paid winnings in cash or anything that can be exchanged for cash. These winnings can not be of a value of more than $10 in merchandise for any one (1) game.
• A player of a video gaming machine must be, at least, 18 years old.
• It is unlawful to operate any video gaming machine between the hours of 2:00 a.m. Sunday through 7:00 a.m. Monday.
• It is unlawful to warehouse any video gaming machines.
• General Statute 14-298 allows gaming tables, illegal punch boards and slot machines to be destroyed by police officers.

All Sheriffs and officers of police are hereby authorized and directed on information made to them on oath that any gaming table prohibited to be used by G.S. 14-289 through G.S. 14-300 any illegal punchboard or illegal slot machine or any video game prohibited to be used by G.S. 14-306 or 14-306.1, is in the possession or use of any person within the limits of their jurisdiction, to destroy the same by every means in their power, and shall call to their aid all the good citizens of the county, if necessary, to affect its destruction.

For more information on the news release, you may contact Stephanie Hardy, Public Information Officer at Phone: (910) 677-5487 Pager: (910) 677-4313 Fax: (910) 677-5558

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