Evening star., 1949-05-30
Prince Georges Votes Thursday
On LegoIizing Slot Machines

IOI MOCnIHcS
Iconsole-type machines circumvent
the law and at the same time ap-
peal to those with highly developed
gambling instincts:
A play Is made on, say, a nickel
machine. If a winning combina-
ton comes up on the wheels a
light flashes showing the number
of plays that can be made with
out dropping In another coin. II,
for example. 10 free plays are
won and the player would like to
cash in his winnings. the operator
will pay him so cents across the
counter and then push q button
on the machine to, cancel out
the free plays. The player can. of
course, play of all his free plays
or, If he wins again, the number
of new free plays is added auto
matically to the number OF old
free plays remaining.
Unlike the pinhall and claw
type devices. where q certain
amount of skill may enter into
the game, the revolving wheel
type depends entirely on chance
for a payoff.
Mr.. Wilkinson emphasized that
the delegation which introduced
the slot machine bill Is not advo-
eating its approval or disapproval
lin Thursdays voting. Although
the seven member delegation was
not unanimous in agreeing to
sponsor the measure in the Cen
eral Assembly, a majority did ap-
prove the plan.
Provision of Law.
This is a summary Of what the
law would provide, II adopted:
The Board of County Commis-
sioners would have discretion to
revoke or withhold issuance Of
-four types Of licenses.
Class A license would permit
operation of devices that pay no
awards or cash but would permit
free plays" such as pinball ma
chimes. There would be no limit
lon the number Of these machines
and the license for each machine
would be $25 q year.
Glass B would authorize opera
ton. of devices which dispense
awards, such as claw machines. In
addition to pin balls. There would
be no limit on the number Of these
devices but the license on each
would be $50.
Glass c would permit operation
of the console. cash-paying slot
machine in addition to the
wards-dispensing type. Not more
than five machines could be oper-
ated and each would be licensed
for SITS.
A Glass d license would be bro
ken down into two types: The first
would permit operation Of three
machines only-each one to be OF
the type authorized under Glasses
A. B and c. In other words. q PIN
ball. . claw and a slot machine
The license would be $500 q year
Distributors License.
The second type Of Glass D IL
cense. for distributors. would cost
81 900 and would permit operation
Of any number Of Glass A and 3
machines but not more than 10e
Class c slot machines. Not more
than i've slot machines could be
placed In one establishment.
An additional 40 per cent tar
would be paid to incorporated
towns in which the machines are
placed.
Penalties : for operating un-
licensed machines would be fines
Of from 500 to $1,000. and for
permitting persons less than Ia
years OF age TO play any but PIN
bali machines. 500 TO $500.
The Law also would require ti1a,
any operator or distributor Of the
machines must have been . resi-
dent and qualified voter Of Prince
Georges County for at least two
years.
Unlike the Charles County ref
erendum bill. the Prince Georges
measure does not earmark pro-
ceeds from the licenses for specific
purposes. II does. however. en-
press the hope that the taxes win
lbe reduced Or further increased
prevented.