Phone Card Sweepstakes Pot of Gold Systems with REMOTE now available

YES we now have the remote credit add and remote clear features available along with a Phone Card vending Kiosk systems. Complete turnkey setup with installation, training and delivery included in the price. We will do it all and get you up and running quickly. Completely turnkey. Check it out

System includes one Phone Card Vending Kiosk, One remote credit add and credit clear box, 1-4 Pot of Gold touchscreen sweepstakes machines, all cables /wiring, the first 10,000 five minute pins, delivery, installation and training. COMPLETELY TURNKEY !

Discussing the RUMORS about North Carolina Pot of Gold Sweepstakes Laws

Right now there is allot of false information and rumors about the current requirements for Pot of Gold Sweepstakes machines in North Carolina such as the ones shown here Sweepstakes machines . Lets try to clear up some of the confusion. First let me say that this is my opinion that I formed by researching the current injunction issued by Wake County Superior court. I am NOT A LAWYER . This is not a LEGAL opinion but is to the best of my knowledge the actual facts according to the current injunction.

The rumor that the machines cannot have bill acceptors, the money must be accepted at a counter and the credits put on the machines remotely. NOT TRUE . No place in the injunction is this listed as a requirement. It is said that this was the way the machines were in the TEST CASE but the injunction only has 4 requirements listed and this is NOT one of them. The requirements are:

1. No more than 4 machines per outlet
2. Sweepstakes rules must be prominently posted in each outlet
3. Free play applications must be available and prominently displayed in each outlet
4. Each machine must require the purchase of a phone card for free play on the sweepstakes games

These are the ONLY 4 requirements listed in the order on June 26, 2009, Wake County.

I welcome any opinions or comments you may have. I do not believe that remote credits are a requirement and it is fine to have bill acceptors in the machines. Customers do not like the remote credit requirement and will not use the machines as much if that is the way they are set up.

Video poker might be returning to North Carolina

Rep. Earl Jones doesn’t say he’s arguing for the return of video poker to North Carolina. After all, the Greensboro Democrat points out, a form of the game is spreading even after the state voted twice in five years to outlaw that type of gambling.
“As we speak, throughout this state, there is a proliferation of video (sweepstakes) machines that’s coming into North Carolina from various companies and manufacturers,” Jones said.
Jones argues that legislation he has sponsored could bring $500 million into state coffers while regulating and reining in an industry that is virtually uncontrolled.
That money is tempting for lawmakers, who are struggling to bridge what Democratic leaders describe as a $4 billion gap in the overdue budget. Lawmakers are stuck on how to raise an additional $1 billion in new taxes they say is needed.
Click here for the full story.
As reported Monday, both the State Employees Association of North Carolina and the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus back the effort to bring video poker back to the state.
Video Poker has a particular history here in North Carolina. Investigations into video poker helped bring down former House Speaker Jim Black. Although he was charged in connection with bribes from chiropractors, it was activity surrounding video poker interests that got federal authorities interested in his activities. Black is now service federal and state prison sentences

NC budget impasse builds hope for tax alternatives

The Associated Press Tuesday, July 28, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. — Lawmakers and interest groups who sense an opening in North Carolina's budget talks over taxes tried Tuesday to build support for alternative methods to generate more revenue or cut costs beyond what Democratic leaders are seeking.
House and Senate Democrats remain at odds again over how to generate nearly $1 billion in new taxes because Gov. Beverly Perdue nixed a proposal that would have raised income taxes on all individuals and corporations with tax bills.
So groups are working to fill the vacuum caused by a broken deal.
Amusement machine owners and lawmakers held a news conference to unveil endorsements for legislation they argue could raise nearly half that amount by repealing the 2006 ban on video poker machines and regulating them instead while the state takes a 20 percent cut from the games.
"It's time for us to look under every rock that we can to find legal dollars to help alleviate this deficit this state is in the middle of right now," said Rep. Kelly Alexander, D-Mecklenburg. "This particular source of revenue is low-hanging fruit."
Separately, Republican leaders said they could locate $633 million in cost savings or more money by making about a dozen simple changes to state law. And Senate Democrats held a finance committee meeting to build bipartisan support for a tax overhaul they said has been needed for decades.
"I urge you to be statesmen and women on this issue," said former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot, a Republican who co-chaired a blue-ribbon commission of business leaders urging tax reform, told lawmakers. "Don't let this opportunity go to waste."
At the video poker news conference, the State Employees Association of North Carolina and the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus said they support removing the ban.
Supporters of the state regulating and taxing the machines argue it would eliminate the industry's past sullied reputation and generate an estimated $498 million in revenues without having to raise taxes on all citizens as high as the previous revenue deal required.
"We believe that this is a viable option," said Rep. Alma Adams, D-Guilford, the Legislative Black Caucus chairman. "We have, I think, an option that we should not pass up."
The legislation, introduced by fellow Guilford Democratic Rep. Earl Jones, received a hearing in a House committee three weeks ago, but no vote was taken or scheduled. That's because legislative leaders say their members want video poker machines to remain illegal in North Carolina.
"We're not ready to go back to legalizing video poker," House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson. "A lot of members remember having to get rid of video poker."
One of the industry's biggest supporters was then-House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg. whose campaign donations from video poker distributors were investigated extensively by state election officials. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence for corruption unrelated to video poker.
The amusement machine industry wants to be taxed and regulated to show that they are reputable, Entertainment Group president William Thevaos said.
A Superior Court judge in February ruled North Carolina couldn't prohibit videopoker machines while allowing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate the same games.
In recent weeks, other trial courts suggested that so-called "sweepstakes" machines, which provide cash prizes when people purchase Internet or phone card time, are exceptions to the ban.
"These gaming systems are alive and well in North Carolina," said Dana Cope, executive director of the State Employee Association, a 55,000-member union.
Republican lawmakers said earlier Tuesday the state could avoid having to raise additional taxes by diverting money North Carolina gets from the 1998 national tobacco settlement and by opposing the expansion of a tax credit for movie makers who film in the state.
The state also could save $50 million by expanding through the University of North Carolina system on a consultant's efficiency study that found UNC-Chapel Hill has too many administrators, GOP members said.
"We can save this kind of money and not harm the education of children," said Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke.
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North Carolina asked to re-visit Sweepstakes Video Poker issue

Here is an article that appeared today July 8, 2009 in the Fayetteville Observer:
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By Paul WoolvertonStaff writer
Video poker advocates appeal to lawmakers

RALEIGH - Video poker advocates told state legislators Tuesday why they thought their gaming machines should be legalized again in North Carolina.
Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have rejected the idea on principle, even though the industry promises it will bring strict controls and raise more than $480 million a year in taxes in the face of a $4 billion-plus budget shortfall.
Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat, whose committee heard the video poker bill, said it will make no further progress in the committee. This likely will kill it. Glazier opposes video poker and said it would be the wrong way to fund the state budget.
The gaming machines were common in bars and convenience stores until several years ago. Following numerous complaints of abuse and corruption, including illegal cash payouts, the machines were outlawed everywhere except at a casino run by the Cherokee Indians in the mountains, where they can legally award cash prizes.
The bill in the legislature would bring the machines back, under oversight of the N.C. Department of Revenue. Under the proposal, no place could have more than 10 machines, the maximum wager would be $5, and the industry would have to pay 20 percent of its income to the state.
The machines would be wired to a central office with the Department of Revenue to monitor their play, income and payouts.
Pending litigation may force legislators to do something, said Brad Crone, a political consultant and spokesman for the industry.
In a lawsuit which New VEMCO Music Co. of Fayetteville filed against the state, a Superior Court judge in February overturned North Carolina's existing ban. That decision has been stayed while the government tries to reverse the ruling on appeal.
State Rep. Earl Jones, a Greensboro Democrat who is pushing to legalize the machines, predicted the state will lose that lawsuit and the games will return.
In the meantime, some gaming companies have gotten around the ban by bringing in new sweepstakes machines. Customers use the machines to purchase a product - Internet access or telephone calling cards - and with their purchase they play the game.
Law enforcement has tried to stop these games, but in a lawsuit filed by Sandhill Amusements of Pinehurst, a Wake County Superior Court judge in June ordered police to leave them alone.
That order will encourage more companies to bring their machines to North Carolina, said Chase Brooks, a gaming operator from Alamance County and representative of the N.C. Entertainment Group.
"You're about to see an influx, a huge influx, of these machines from out of state," Brooks said. "They're coming in from everywhere. Tens of thousands of them. They're going to be here shortly."
Brooks said gaming operators such as himself would prefer to operate under oversight from the Department of Revenue.
"If you go back and you take a look at history, there's a black cloud over the poker industry," Brooks said. "There's a lot of us that want to remove that black cloud. . We want to remove all these issues."
The industry would employ 5,000 to 10,000 people, he said, and operate games at 25,000 to 50,000 stores. "Those store owners are more likely to retain another individual on payroll," he said.
Christian conservatives said the state should resist the money and jobs temptation.
"Video poker brought both heartache and shame to our great state," said the Rev. Mark Creech of the Christian Action League. "Many of our citizens became addicted to it, leading to both social and economic consequences for them, their families and their communities."
The state could "become so obsessed with the need for revenue that we make compromises that are entirely too costly," Creech said.
Bill Brooks, president of the socially conservative N.C. Family Policy Council, said the gaming industry is exaggerating its likely tax revenue. Bill Brooks is not related to Chase Brooks.
"They're claiming they're going to give the state 20 percent of their profits, and the state's going to get close to half a billion dollars?" Bill Brooks said. "That means that people are going to be putting in $21/2billion into video poker? Well, that number's just way too high."Staff writer Paul Woolverton can be reached at woolvertonp@fayobserver.com, (919) 828-7641 or 486-3512

Prevent cheating on your Cherry Master Machines

Cheating is a big problem for operators of Cherry Master machines. There are ways to help detect and prevent cheating on your machines. First you need to understand the methods used to cheat. The two most common cheats are electronic "zapping" of the bill acceptor and "fishing" .
Zapping involves the use of a handheld high voltage zapper or stun device that acts like a cattle prod to induce a high voltage shock to it's victim when presses to the person. In this case it is used to "zap" the bill acceptor or the coin mechanism to fool it into thinking that money has been inserted. This can rack up game credits that are used to play and win on the game. This is very hard to detect. "Fishing" involves feeding the bill into the machine until the credits rack up and then pulling it back out with an attached string or tape. Signs that this is being done include

1. A high rate of failure of game boards and bill acceptors
2. A machine that consistently loses money
3 A mismatch between the meter readings and the actual amt of money in the machine
4. The same player winning most often and playing for a very long time

If you suspect cheating you can count the money in the machine immediately before and after the suspected player plays the machine and match it to the meter readings, or place a video camera in a strategic location, or have someone watch the player very carefully. If you catch the culprit you can report them to law enforcement or ban them from your establishment. more info

Phone Card Sweepstakes Machines now Available

Announcing the availability of Phone Card Sweepstakes machines.
Please check out our new Sweepstakes machines. All include touchscreen slimline LCD 19" monitors and 12 video Pot of Gold selectable games. Players get to buy Phone Card time and get free credits to play the Sweepstakes game. For pricing and details click here

New GA Skill Game Nudge Jack released

New From Mitchell Enterprises, Nudge Jack Georgia Skill game. This game finally answers the need for a skill game that awards players with multiple levels of bonuses. It is VGA and touchscreen capable. Uses graphics similar to the ever popular Captain Jack game. Can be played with buttons or with touchscreen. Pleayers will love this game and keep coming back for more. more info

Slimline LCD Cherry Master Countertop Machines are best sellers

Our NEW Slimline LCD 17" Countertop is our best seller.
This awesome new design has a bigger and clearer display. Has a smaller footprint and can accept CGA, VGA and SVGA game boards. Operators are reporting increased play and are very pleased with the new design. Check them out. more info

Proposed Bill to Make Cherry Masters legal in Pennsylvania

Rendell mulls video poker revenue

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BY ROBERT SWIFT
STAFF WRITER
rswift@timesshamrock.com

Published: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 4:11 AM EST

HARRISBURG — Video poker machines would see the legal light of day under a new Rendell administration plan to help families pay college costs.

The proposal would legalize video poker machines in bars, taverns, restaurants and private clubs with liquor licenses. The move would end decades of a shadowy, illegal existence for that form of gambling. If enacted, this law would mark the second major expansion of legalized gambling in Pennsylvania in five years, following the 2004 vote to legalize slots casinos.

The administration wants to use millions of dollars of anticipated video poker revenue to help students attending the 14 state-owned universities, including Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg in Northeast Pennsylvania, and community colleges, starting this fall if state lawmakers approve.

Officials say an expansion of tuition aid is needed to help students and families cope with job layoffs and stock market losses in recent months.

The plan, outlined prior to Gov. Ed Rendell’s annual budget address today, would target students whose family income is less than $100,000. They would be eligible for up to $7,600 annually for tuition, books, fees and room and board.

“Legalizing this form of entertainment will generate more than half a billion dollars annually to support the tuition relief plan,” said acting state Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler.

Each licensed establishment would be able to install up to five machines. There are some 11,000 bars and restaurants and 3,000 private social clubs with liquor licenses in Pennsylvania.

Under the proposal, the Revenue Department would issue licenses to establishments as well as machine manufacturing and distribution licenses to companies. The state would tax 50 percent of net profits from the video poker machines.

State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski took a practical view of the proposal, saying it would enable the state to obtain revenue from an estimated 17,000 video poker machines being operated illegally.

The proposal is offered against a backdrop where bars and taverns want help to offset the loss of customers from the state indoor smoking ban, tough drunk driving laws and competition from the slots casinos.

“With the economy, the smoking ban and the .08 percent blood alcohol limit, we need this to exist,” said Amy Christie, director of the Pennsylvania Tavern Association.

While Republican senators favor expanding tuition aid, they are leery of underwriting it with video-poker revenue.

New Cherry Master Cabinet designs available

New 8 liner Cherry master cabinet designs: The old picture tube type CRT cherry master cabinets are being phased out and soon will not be available anywhere. The problem is that the picture tube monitors are no longer being manufactured and as soon as current stocks are depleted they are going to be impossible to buy. We have redesigned all of our cabinets to use flat screen LCD "dual scan" monitors. These monitors can run both the CGA and the newer VGA games on them. You get a better image, improved reliability, small footprint and less energy consumption. Please check them out today more info