Workers unload a video poker machine into an Augusta warehouse. Video poker parlors are scrambling to move gambling machine equipment out of the state before Saturday's midnight deadline. Video poker was outlawed in South Carolina on July 1. TODD BENNETT/STAFF

Poker machines enter Augusta

Web posted July 7, 2000

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By Sylvia Cooper
Staff Writer

Augusta officials pulled in the welcome mat on South Carolina's outlawed video poker, but they can't stop the flow of gaming machines coming into the city for storage.

Video poker parlor owners are scrambling to get the devices out of South Carolina before midnight Saturday, when it will become a crime to have one or even parts of one in the state.

On Thursday and today, employees of Jimmy L. Martin Sr., owner of Great Games of North Augusta, unloaded various gaming machines into the old Woolworth's building at Eighth and Broad streets in downtown Augusta.

Mr. Martin and his corporation owns hundreds of the devices that operated at about 90 locations in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue video gaming machine report.

Mr. Martin said he didn't have any idea what he was going to do with them yet.

``I own the building. I needed a place to put them, so I'm just storing them there,'' he said. ``I don't have any plans now. I'm taking my family on a vacation to get away from this. I'm in no hurry. You know, my life is going to go on with or without video poker, and that's it.

``My sympathy lies with my employees. I hated to send those 100 cards in for that unemployment thing today. But other than that I'm fine.''

Mr. Martin said he was not going to try to sell the machines.

``I've had people call and want to buy them,'' he said. ``But no, I'm not doing anything right now. While I'm on my vacation, I may decide everything.''

The machines have been coming into Augusta for storage from various sources for some time. Two weeks ago, Augusta's city attorney Jim Wall said warehouses were full of them, and arcade license applications were pouring into the city license department.

Video poker was outlawed in South Carolina, effective July 1, but a week's extension was granted for getting the machines out of that state.

Arcade operators are moving into Georgia because a provision in state law allows amusement machines as long as there is skill involved in the game, Mr. Wall said.

Some arcades give players gift certificates of up to $5 that they may redeem at some retail outlets or exchange for lottery tickets.

Mr. Wall found reasons for recommending that city commissioners deny licenses to three applicants who applied before the board rushed through an amendment to the arcade ordinance making it more restrictive. But there is no law against warehousing the machines in Georgia, Mr. Wall said.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylviaco@augustachronicle.com.