Opinion ID: 1309361
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the Poker Machines Were Illegal Gambling Devices.

Text: We next consider French's claim that the so-called poker devices were not illegal gambling machines subject to forfeiture under Iowa Code section 809.6. This argument has two basic premises. First, that the machines in question were legal as amusement devices under Iowa Code section 99B.10. Second, that, even if they did not qualify as amusement devices under that statute, the machines do not meet the basic definition of an illegal gambling device. We reject both of these contentions. The so-called pokers do not qualify as lawful amusement devices under section 99B.10 because the evidence clearly established that they contained devices that enable the possessor of the machines to release free game credits and also contained meters for retaining the results of prior performance by the users of the machines. Those features disqualify the machines from use as legal amusement devices based on the requirements of Iowa Code section 99B.10(2). In addition, there was evidence that the odds of winning on the machines could be varied by settings made by the possessor of the machines. That feature would also disqualify these machines from qualifying as legal amusement devices. See Iowa Code § 99B.10(3) (1991). As to French's contention that, apart from section 99B.10, the machines are otherwise not gambling devices, the controlling definition is found in Iowa Code section 725.9(3). That statute provides: Gambling device means a device used or adapted or designed to be used for gambling and includes, but is not limited to, roulette wheels, klondike tables, punchboards, faro layouts, keno layouts, numbers tickets, slot machines, pinball machines, push cards, jar tickets and pull-tabs. However, gambling device does not include an antique slot machine, antique pinball machine, or any device regularly manufactured and offered for sale and sold as a toy, except that any use of such a toy, antique slot machine or antique pinball machine for gambling purposes constitutes unlawful gambling. The evidence supported the trial court's finding that the machines in question were gambling devices under this definition. French suggests that the adaptation of the machines to include devices for the release of free games and meters for retaining information as to past performances may have been performed by the proprietors of the locations where the machines were placed for use. He also suggests that any gambling that occurred through the use of the machines at those locations may have been the sole project of those proprietors occurring without his knowledge. The evidence strongly refutes these contentions. Testimony was offered at the trial from French's key employee that French was responsible for the illegal alterations placed on these devices and that he shared in the proceeds from the illegal gaming activities with the proprietors of those establishments where the machines had been placed. Consequently, there was substantial evidence in the record to support the district court's findings that French possessed these machines for an illegal purpose. French does not challenge the additional finding that the other items forfeited were shown to have been acquired through proceeds derived from the illegal gaming machines. We have considered all arguments presented and conclude that the judgment of the district court should be affirmed. AFFIRMED.