They are supposed to be “monitored” to prevent children from playing. But placing loud flashing slot machines in child friendly environments like supermarkets and C-stores is clearly designed to promote slots to the young and naive.
Vilsack and the Dems know exactly what they are doing. Gambling has been one of the few winning issues for Dems nationally in recent years. Republicans oppose it at their own peril.
Gambling is so addictive to both the players and proprietors that we need to draw the line now.
http://www.ialottery.com/Touchplay/Touchplayjt.html
About TouchPlay
The Iowa Lottery is the first lottery in the nation to offer TouchPlay, vending machines that use video and sound to reveal the results of the pull-tab tickets they dispense.
Players insert money into the monitor vending machines as they do with any other vending machine. However, after the ticket is dispensed, the machine's video monitor displays the results of the ticket while entertaining electronic tones indicate whether the ticket has won a prize.
• The machines don't pay out money. Players redeem the winning tickets at the business where the machine is located.
• The machines are able to build up credit, but cash prizes must be obtained from a store clerk.
TouchPlay machines are located in convenience stores, bars, restaurants, fraternal clubs and other locations where play can be monitored by an attendant to assure no under-age players use the machines.
The TouchPlay machines in Iowa are manufactured by Diamond Game Enterprises Inc. of Chatsworth, Calif. and Oasis Gaming of Omaha, Neb.
Ticket price: Games prices range from 25 cents to $1.
Prizes: Prizes range from $1 to $600.
If you are a retailer interested in placing a machine in your store, click here.
Overall odds:??
Frankly, now that I've read all that, I'm even less concerned about those machines. They sound like harmless fun for adults who get off on that sort of thing. I don't, but, to each his own.
Probably ought to keep them out of convenience stores, schools, and daycare kennels, though. In fact, perhaps this is one instance where a 2000' restriction might actually do some good ...