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Florida Cracks Down on Illegal Slot
Machines
Florida has taken the stance that even
though slot machines may be legal in
Broward County, they are not going to be
found anywhere else. The Seminole Tribe
has been trying unsuccessfully to get
the state to sign a slot machine compact
with them, but so far nothing has come
out of that. Eventually the Seminoles
will have Class III slot machines, but
no where else in Florida besides Broward
will.
They have taken to really cracking down
on so called “amusement centers” that
run slot machines illegally but refer to
them as arcade games. The law in Florida
is very clear – if it does not take
skill to operate, if the player cannot
influence the end result, and it has
some sort of payout, then the machine is
a slot machine and it is illegal.
Back in December of 2005, there were
thirteen illegal slot machine rooms
operating in Hernando and Citrus
counties. The state informed them that
they were in fact operating illegal slot
machines and that they were to cease and
desist all business. There were two that
chose not to take the warning, they were
raided, their slot machines seized, and
the owners and employees charged with
operating an illegal slot machine
parlor.
Many seniors were upset by the change,
as they use the rooms as social centers.
They say that they do not feel that they
are being taken advantage of, they feel
that the centers are doing them a
service in that they are able to hang
out with their friends. When the Diamond
Dust Game Room closed down, many seniors
were upset. Then when it opened they
were excited to have their hang out
again. But then when the State’s
Attorney General opted to inform them
that the slot machines were still
illegal, the groups found themselves out
on the street once again.
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