There are two video sweepstakes centers now operating within two miles of the State Capitol, said gaming supporters.
While the state has banned video poker machines, a recent N.C. Superior Court judge has validated video gaming in the state.
“People will always find some way to gamble,” said Richmond County Sheriff Dale Furr. He joined with the N.C. Sheriff’s Association in condemning video poker machines which have been banned.
“But a judge has said to leave the Internet video poker machine operations alone, so we are,” he said.
“We can’t do anything without some legal means to do to,” said Rockingham Police Chief Robert Voorhees.
He has been aggressive in the past in having video poker machines removed from within Rockingham.
“There are some video computer-type terminals in Hamlet at one location,” said Hamlet Police Chief John Haywood.
“I have heard there is a push for the old style poker machines to come back with a wireless link to the state that shows how much currency is going through the machines so the state can get its share,” he said.
“As far as my take on them,” Haywood said, “it is whatever the law allows. We have to go along with it.”
The video sweepstakes proponents, organized as the Entertainment Group of North Carolina, argue that in a time when the state needs revenue, it would gain nearly $500 million a year from video gaming.
“It’s time to do the right thing for our state and our taxpayers — regulate and tax video gaming,” the group said.
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