December 22, 1999
Anti-gambling group targets 8-liners
___By Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--Prosecution of the "scofflaws" who allow use of illegal video gambling machines, also known as eight-liners, has been urged by the executive committee of Texans Against Gambling.
___The organization's leaders specifically singled out Abilene and Arlington as places where they believe law enforcement officials ignore the law that declares eight-liners illegal and allow them to operate almost unimpeded.
___It was reported Arlington--a city of more than a quarter-million population--has more than 1,000 of the so-called eight-liners operating, some of them in casino-type settings.
___"In some places, such as Fort Worth, Haltom City and Burleson, law enforcement officials have enforced the laws, have charged the operators and have seized the machines. In other places, such as Arlington and Abilene, the law enforcement officials have done nothing, saying they are waiting for 'a clarification' of the law which makes the eight-liners illegal," said Roger Weems, minister of Graham Street Church of Christ in Stephenville and a member of the executive committee.
___Weems cited an editorial in the Arlington Star-Telegram that said proliferation of the machines--which it called "cousins to slot machines"--is a cause for concern and the businesses which have proliferated because of them should be shut down.
___In a statement adopted during their December meeting, members of the Texans Against Gambling executive committee called on county and city attorneys to "give priority to enforcing laws against the operation of eight-liners and to prosecuting offenders. Too many county and city law enforcement agencies fail to enforce the law against video gambling machines."
___In some places, the Texas Department of Public Safety has enforced the attorney general's ruling that such machines are illegal and has seized more than 2,000 of the machines, the executive committee noted.
___The statement urged citizens "to demand that their law enforcement agencies crack down on operators of illegal video gambling machines."
___"Some owners and operators of truck stops, convenience stores, bowling alleys and arcades are flaunting the laws of Texas by allowing illegal video gambling machines on their premises," it added. "Motivated by greed, these scofflaws are willing to risk minor misdemeanor penalties in order to profit from illegal eight-liners."
___Looking forward to the 2001 biennial session of the Texas Legislature, the executive committee reiterated its request (made during the 1999 session) that lawmakers clarify the state penal code definition of "gambling devices," drawing a clear distinction between games of chance and games in which skill is the main requirement to win. They also urged legislators to increase the penalty for operating an illegal eight-liner from a misdemeanor to a felony.
___Committee member Weston Ware asked that citizens give input about any place in the state where eight-liner machines are being allowed to operate. Ware may be reached by phone at (214) 828-5190, or by e-mail at ware@bgct.org.
___The video gambling devices under scrutiny are often called Eight-Liners, Cherry Masters, Texas Draw Poker or a number of similar names. All include a video screen display and a panel of buttons on the front. The so-called eight-liners have eight ways to win, and bets can be placed on three vertical lines, three horizontal lines and two diagonal lines.
___The Texas attorney general has ruled the devices illegal, even if they dispense gift certificates to reputable merchants. The machines are illegal because they offer a prize, play is by chance rather than skill and the payoff is an amount not allowed by law.
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