NC high court weighs status of video sweepstakes

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's highest court is deciding whether the state can outlaw video sweepstakes parlors as gambling halls, or whether the video screens give the owners constitutional free-speech rights.

The state Supreme Court's seven-member panel heard arguments Wednesday in two cases in which amusement machine and other companies want to overturn a 2010 law banning video sweepstakes machines as a form of gambling. Sweepstakes halls have cropped up since the state outlawed video poker machines.

A company attorney argued customers can find out from a clerk whether they've won, but using a video screen to share that information is no different than communicating in pictures, French or Braille. Attorney Kelly Daughtry says it's all protected speech.

"They want you to go there. They're not doing it for the heck of it, just for good nature," Daughtry said. "They're trying to get you to buy their product, and that's what my clients are trying to do – to get you to buy their product."

A state government attorney says no one has a right to run a gambling operation.

"It's not a ban on video games. It's not a ban on sweepstakes. It's on a certain delivery system using video games to convey the results of a sweepstakes," said state Solicitor General John Maddrey.

The high court is expected to rule in the next few months.

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They'll leave em and tax the machine, (property taxes, fees for operation of them by the county). Then later on the state will see how to get their share of this money.

Rebelyell55
October 18, 2012 11:04 a.m.

Greeting back on track : the argument :

HB 80 says that it's ok to play a sweepstakes and have your prizes revealed by mail or by LOOKING at a piece of paper.

BUT the Sweepstakes is illegal if you LOOK at a computer screen to see those same results.

Paper YES Computer NO

That's how simple this argument is.

The reason HB80 was reverse is because the NCCOA agreed with the complaint.

Sweepstakes are legal A computer monitor is legal

BUT IF YOU PUT THE TWO LEGAL DEVICES TOGETHER....NOT LEGAL ?

dearkarma
October 18, 2012 9:41 a.m.

Hope they ban these things.....Its bad enough we have the Lottery taking advantage of the Mathematically challenged without adding these more seductive and addictive machines.

Grand Union
October 18, 2012 9:41 a.m.

"There is no regulation of these gaming machines or establishments.

How can the public be assured that the machines are working properly and have not been programmed to give the 'house' an unfair advantage?" james27613

The house ALWAYS has an unfair advantage. Why do you think these things are popping up every half mile down the road?? Certainly not because they are paying out lots of winnings.

Also, look at the giant casinos in New Jersey and Las Vegas. Do you think those enormous beautiful places were built and stay in business by paying out a lot of winnings?

JoCo50 at MXR
October 18, 2012 9:08 a.m.

Legalize REAL gambling and keep the money in this state. It's silly to let this go to the internet, Vegas, Atlantic City, etc. when we could have those revenues HERE and NOW.

People that have the money will spend the money, and casinos will make it a little more difficult for the poor to waste their money like they do now with internet gambling and lotteries.

When will these politicians on Jones St. ever wake up?