FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOP SENATORS PROPOSE CRACKDOWN ON CHERRY MASTERS, VIDEO POKER MACHINES
Republican amendment adds more enforcement, stricter penalties to gaming legislation
(Statehouse) -- Republican state senators Monday proposed a statewide crackdown on illegal electronic gambling devices by adding more enforcement and stricter penalties. GOP leaders offered their plan as an amendment to gaming legislation already making its way through the legislature.
House Bill 1510, which passed the House of Representatives, would create an Annual Charity Game Night License allowing organizations to host up to three gaming events per week, but no more than two in a row. The bill, as passed by the House, also creates a new PPT license, allowing not-for-profits to sell pull tabs, punch boards and tip boards on their property year round.
Sens. David Long (R-Ft. Wayne) and Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), authors of the Republican amendment, said their plan would “safeguard genuine charity efforts while cracking down on the growing statewide scourge of illegal gambling.”
Their amendment would:
¦ Limit charity gaming nights throughout the year to organizations in existence for 10 years or longer;
¦ Outlaw cherry masters, video poker and similar machines from public places;
¦ Increase manpower for state excise enforcement of illegal gambling laws;
¦ Permit the Gaming Commission to require independent audits of licensees; and
¦ Increase penalties to include possible loss of lottery contracts, retail merchant permits and state licenses for the sale of tobacco and alcohol.
Gaming Commission officials say illegal gambling devises are becoming more common across Indiana in-part because local law enforcement and prosecutors feel the need to concentrate on violence and drug crimes. They estimate about 30,000 such machines have been placed across Indiana .
Republican lawmakers said by limiting gaming to already-established charities, they hoped to prevent any camouflaging of illegal gambling operations as legitimate not-for-profits.
Their proposal would hire 25 additional excise officers–an increase of 28 percent–to investigate illegal gambling. Violators would jeopardize their state licenses to otherwise conduct business, thus freeing-up local law enforcement and prosecutors to focus on local needs.
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