Seizure of video gaming machines 'a warning,' sheriff says | Human ...

Authorities said they have seized 107 video gaming machines from three Greenville County businesses as part of what they described as an effort to send a warning to others that remain open.

The seizures came as authorities across the state wrestle with how to deal with what they said has been a resurgence in video gaming, more than 12 years after the state Supreme Court pulled the plug on video poker.

Battles over the games are playing out in courtrooms statewide with defenders arguing they are legal as long as they meet certain elements of the law, including that they promote products or services.

Sheriff Steve Loftis said several businesses have opened in recent months as sweepstakes or Internet cafes and that Greenville County deputies know of at least 17.

Inside are illegal video gambling machines, he said.

?We can?t do it all at once, but I assure you, we?re not going to put up with it,? Loftis said.

Mauldin recently put a half-year moratorium on the machines after officials said they received an increase in inquiries from video gaming businesses. Other communities have refused to permit them or raised licensing fees.

The sheriff?s machine seizures included 52 from 3023 White Horse Road, 35 from 6516 White Horse Road and 20 from 1386 North Pleasantburg Drive, deputies said.

Authorities are still investigating who should be charged and with what offense, said 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins.

Some of the seized machines looked like desktop computers, while others resembled the old video poker games. Magistrate Diane Cagle responded to the locations before the machines were seized and deemed them illegal, Loftis said.

Accounts were built based on player drivers? license numbers, Loftis said. They would buy Internet minutes and then go to a machine, where they would enter a PIN, Loftis said.

Players would pick a game, such as slots or keno, and winners were paid cash on the spot, Loftis said.

Some payouts involved printed slips, while others were sent to a main computer, he said.

Source: http://www.human-rights-and-christian-persecution.org/seizure-of-video-gaming-machines-a-warning-sheriff-says/

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