Monday, April 11, 2005

Misconceptions

I'm going to clarify what is either a misconception, or a tongue-in-cheek reaction. Gaming machines, as they exist in Idaho are just that. While the state licenses them as "amusement only" machines, that is where the tongue-in-cheek is.

A few years ago in Shoshone County, all of the bars and private clubs were raided by the FBI. All machines were confiscated, and proceeds seized. After a long investigation, including plants and surveillance, the FBI concluded that not a single bar was using the machines as "amusement only".

Certainly, after all that, our County Prosecutor, as well as our Sheriff, and all other interested parties, knew what was going on. This is the definition of the word "Tolerance".

Only after the greed of the Idaho State Gaming commission entered the picture, and pointed out to law enforcement that the activity was illegal, did any enforcement occur.

All the owners and operators of these machines operate them as gaming machines! All of them pay off to winners!

This tolerance policy has existed as long as boot legging in the Silver Valley has. No harm, no foul. Our law enforcement people didn't think it hurt anyone, so as independent North Idahoans, they ignored it. I suggest that if you care about this issue, boycott the State lottery in protest.

2 comments:

Bill McCrory said...

Unfortunately, illegal payoff gambling isn't really no harm - no foul. Eventually, when the money gets big enough, organized crime moves in. That law enforcement was willing to overlook the violations suggests that some under-the-table payoffs might have been going to law enforcement officers to look the other way. And, one purpose of regulating gaming is to keep the games honest, keep the proprietors from ripping off the patrons. Regulation also helps keep illegal machine suppliers from forcing otherwise honest business proprietors from using rigged machines.

Bill McCrory said...

Oops.

It should have read, "Regulation also helps keep illegal machine suppliers from forcing otherwise honest business proprietors to use rigged machines."