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Florida Video Arcade Raises Concerns

FLORIDA – As reported by the Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Like a lot of fellow residents in Kings Point, Mitzi Gerris has started playing at the Vegas Fun arcade that opened last fall in the nearby Atlantic Two shopping center on Jog Road west of Delray Beach.

"Vegas Fun, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the companies opening gambling-for-prizes video arcades in Florida. Since September, the firm has opened two in West Palm Beach and one west of Delray Beach.

"The fourth in Palm Beach County will open at Greenacres Plaza at Lake Worth and Jog roads, according to C.W. 'Pete' McDonald, co-owner of the parent company, which has arcades in Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.

"…The arcades are proving popular with retirees such as Gerris.

"…Instead of the traditional one-armed bandits, the machines are button-operated video-game consoles offering a variety of games, prices and payoffs. Winnings are not in currency. Instead, players receive coupons for dining, retail merchandise, groceries or even paying their credit card bills.

"The sudden proliferation of the arcades has generated controversy in the state. The District Court of Appeal in Sarasota County is reviewing whether a Florida law is too vague on what constitutes gambling.

"State Sen. Steven A. Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, has introduced a bill in the Legislature aimed at closing the loophole in the state gambling laws…"

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