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ICMOA: Let Gaming Board Get Controls in Place Before Unilaterally Banning Video Gaming

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 August 2009, 16:13 CDT

MORRIS, Ill., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association (ICMOA) today encouraged public officials throughout the state to let the Illinois Gaming Board do its job in establishing procedures and protocols for administering the 2009 Video Gaming Act before rushing to ban video gaming out of fear and half-facts.

The group also urged the state legislature to make sure the gaming board has sufficient funding to properly oversee the law's administration.

"The hysteria over machines that take a maximum bet of $2 and pay out a maximum win of $500 is out of proportion," said Zack Stamp, who represents the ICMOA. "In fact, this is a fairly painless way (to the vast majority of citizens) to fund badly needed public works projects."

Stamp cites a study by the Government Accountability Office, which found no evidence between convenience gaming and pathological gambling, bankruptcy, crime rates or an increase in social problems in states where such gaming is legal.

Video gaming was approved by legislators in July as a means of partially funding a $31-billion public works program. It permits up to five video gambling machines offering games like poker or blackjack per allowable adult establishment, including liquor-pouring bars, fraternal and veterans groups and truck stops, where minors are not allowed. The Illinois Municipal League estimates that for each establishment with the maximum number of five machines, each municipality will reap $11,250 annually in tax revenue.

Stamp congratulated such bodies as the Will County Board, which decided to table the issue until it could be more deeply studied. Other municipalities are waiting for the rules and regulations from the Illinois Gaming Board and are seeking input from local businesses before making a decision.

Video gaming has been successful as a reliable revenue source in the majority of states where it has been legalized, including New York, Montana and Louisiana, Stamp said. It has been repealed in Iowa and South Carolina because of failings in their statutes on age controls. The experiences of all were thoroughly researched by policymakers to ensure best practices were applied to Illinois' legislation, he added.

"The reality is that video gaming will not be coming to a bar near you for probably another year," said Stamp. "Local officials have nothing to lose by waiting to see how the Illinois Gaming Board plans shape up and researching the pros and cons in the interim."

Headquartered in Morris, the ICMOA is a 120-member, non-profit organization formed by businesses involved in the coin-operated amusement machine industry in Illinois. For more information, visit www.icmoa.org.

Media contact: Sally Hodge Hodge Schindler Integrated Communications 312.666.6662 shodge@hodgeschindler.com

SOURCE The Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association

Source: PR Newswire

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