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Video Poker Folds in South Carolina26 June 2000WASHINGTON – June 26, 2000 – As reported by CNSNews.com: "When the final plug is pulled July 1 on the 34,000 video poker machines that have sprouted up across South Carolina like palmettos, the state will say goodbye to a $2 billion industry, but the social and economic problems associated with the devices were too costly, say many South Carolinians. "…Last October, the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld a vote by the legislature to end video gambling in the state by July 1. State law enforcement officials say businesses must have the machines turned off by midnight, and then have one week to get them out of South Carolina. "…In 1998, South Carolina incumbent Republican Gov. David Beasley ran for re-election, and lost, to Democrat Jim Hodges, who was heavily backed by the video gaming industry. Beasley campaigned strongly for the removal of the poker machines from the state. "…Hayes concurs that it was strictly the video poker industry's money that cost Beasley his job, despite the existence of a strong coalition of opponents to video poker in South Carolina. That coalition includes business groups, Democrats, Republicans, Catholics, Protestants, whites and blacks. "…Although each machine brings in an average revenue of $20,000 per year and provides a nice profit to many small businesses, they have a negative effect on South Carolina as a whole, said a study done for the South Carolina Policy Council Educational Foundation by Dr. William Thompson of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "Among other things, the study estimates that 'each problem gambler costs other South Carolinians $6,299 per year in debts, court costs, criminal actions, lost work hours and unemployment compensation.' "In November, South Carolinians vote on whether to have a state-run lottery like neighboring Georgia…" |