Retailers could lose licenses if they have coin-pusher devices
Coin-pusher machines are popping up at limited video lottery businesses in violation of state law, and the West Virginia Lottery is warning operators that it will yank their licenses if they do not get rid of the devices.
Coin-pusher machines are touted as skills games by manufacturers and distributors. Players insert coins in the machines in an attempt to push other coins, tokens, jewelry or other prizes off rotating shelves and into a bin where the players can retrieve them.
Lottery Director John Musgrave said lottery attorneys believe a ban on possession of unlicensed licensing gambling machines applies to the machines. The ban was included in a 2001 law that legalized up to 9,000 limited video lottery machines in bars, clubs, and fraternal organizations.
"We're notifying limited video retailers that it is a violation of Lottery regulations, and criminal law," Musgrave told the Lottery Commission on Wednesday.
Violating the ban is a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to three years and fines of up to $100,000 per machine.
Musgrave said the coin-pusher machines also are proliferating at other businesses around West Virginia.
"They're showing up in pizza places. They're showing up in corner drug stores," he said.
Limited video lottery operators also have been warned that it is their responsibility to prevent their businesses from being listed under "casinos" in telephone directories. The 2001 law prohibited operators from advertising limited video lottery machines.
Musgrave also said Lottery revenues for April were $132 million, bringing the total for the fiscal year so far to $1.263 billion. He said the Lottery is on pace to break the record $1.399 billion set in the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
I don't stop often in WV when traveling through so have never seen the coin pushers there. I have seen quite a few in Virginia. I've seen some folks plunking in quarter after quarter for up to two hours before I had to move on. Also have seen several folks 'bump' the machines trying to get more quarters to fall without setting the tilt alarm or being caught by employees.
I'm reasonably good at those machines.. they have them on the Boardwalk (but for tokens, not money) and when in WV near Hurricane a few years ago I encountered one at a truck stop. There's a certain way to play them. What I don't quite get is how do they make money on them unless a portion of the spilled quarters is skimmed off before hitting the tray?
I don't stop often in WV when traveling through so have never seen the coin pushers there. I have seen quite a few in Virginia. I've seen some folks plunking in quarter after quarter for up to two hours before I had to move on. Also have seen several folks 'bump' the machines trying to get more quarters to fall without setting the tilt alarm or being caught by employees.
I don't think I've ever played coin-pusher machines. They don't sound like a very appealing game to play.
I've tried tham before at video arcades. It's really nice when youwin.
I'm reasonably good at those machines.. they have them on the Boardwalk (but for tokens, not money) and when in WV near Hurricane a few years ago I encountered one at a truck stop. There's a certain way to play them. What I don't quite get is how do they make money on them unless a portion of the spilled quarters is skimmed off before hitting the tray?
Are you guys talking about the game known as Wedges and Ledges?
I have NO clue what these are either lol
I played one such machine in Kenova, WV, last year on my way back from California. I wish NY had these machines. A much better game than NY Rotto.
Often the proprietors tape $1 and higher bills and place them on the ledges.