It's the beginning of the end for video poker in North Carolina. A new state law is phasing out the games and by next summer they will be illegal across the State. Local law enforcement got rid of many machines Monday. There are an estimated 10,000 legal, registered video poker machines in North Carolina. Machines destroyed Monday aren't any of those, but rather just some of the 10,000 illegal poker machines in the State. By July 1, 2007 all video poker machines will be illegal. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office destroyed poker machines Monday seized over the past few months. Sheriff Sid Causey says he's glad video poker machines are on their way out, not only because of illegal gambling but because of the crime associated with them. "These things attract a bad element of our society. We've had numerous robberies. I know of two murders or homicides. And there's just nothing good that comes out of these things," Sheriff Causey said. The new law does not lift limitations for sheriff's offices. They still do not have the power of inspection and can only bust illegal poker machine operations through undercover operations. Still, Causey says eventually making all video poker machines illegal, whether they pay out cash, or coupons will make law enforcement's job easier. "Regardless of where they are, how many they have, or whatever, we're able to draw our search warrant and go in there," Causey said.
The State's Sheriff's Association has pushed for the new law for years, finally getting it on the books October 1.
Brunswick County Sheriff Ron Hewett is president of the Sheriff's Association. He said, "The North Carolina Sheriff's Association helped push that law through the House, the Senate and the Governor's Office, and we firmly stand behind the law."
The North Carolina Amusement Machine Association is leading the fight against the new law.
Last week a Superior Court judge denied their request to block the law until their lawsuit challenging it is heard.
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