Arcade cabinets used to hide video poker machines
by John Bardinelli 
{ Mar 26th 2007 at 3:56PM }
A crafty Speedway owner in Sevierville, Tennessee thought she found a way around the state's anti-gambling laws. Inside the diner were four arcade cabinets, two of which contained video poker machines in addition to arcade hardware. The cabinets were rigged to switch from arcade to poker mode by remote control, so if Centipede failed to give you a thrill, perhaps Texas hold 'em would do the trick.The police got wind of the situation and seized all four machines. Owner Sharon Tarwater was charged with possession of gambling devices. Looks like it's time to break out the old "video games made me do it" defense!
[Via GamePolitics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sans_Virtue @ Mar 26th 2007 4:41PM
That's actually pretty crafty...
Diskoboy @ Mar 26th 2007 4:18PM
In Tennessee, they've already got a state lottery... There is now a bill to legalize casino gambling, in the house... (I live in Nashville, BTW)
What gives?
Wes @ Mar 27th 2007 1:47AM
Ha, wish I had gotten word of this last thursday when I was actually over in Pigeon Forge...
Sevier County's always been more on the strict Bible belt law side, which probably explains why it's still a dry county.
I live in Knoxville, can't say this surprises me.
Solid22 @ Mar 27th 2007 8:49AM
Well, that's my home state, crafty folks. Of course I live in Memphis so all I have to do is drive across the state line to Tunica, MS for legal gambling.
mike @ Mar 26th 2007 4:46PM
gambling should be legal everywhere. If I choose to take a risk in losing everything I own, how is this different then going to a casino and losing everything I own?
mike @ Mar 26th 2007 4:48PM
gambling should be legal everywhere. If I choose to take a risk in losing everything I own, how is this different then going to a casino and losing everything I own?
Maybe I wouldent have to drive 2 hours just to get to a casino and have a little fun that way. From now on, Im demanding every shop keep with an arcade I come across to switch to gambling mode. Maybe I will get lucky and find some1 who has a rigged up machine like the one mentioned in the article.
jcmschwa @ Mar 26th 2007 5:13PM
but casinos give you free drinks while you're gambling...so that's the joy in driving to a casino while you gamble all your money away
Judd @ Mar 26th 2007 5:29PM
The reason it's illegal is because in America anytime people trade money, the government is supposed to get a bit of it. Lottery is legal because a lot of it goes to pay for the school system(at least it's supposed to). If people make bets between each other it's a lot harder to track than if people give money, in exchange of a product.
Alexander @ Mar 27th 2007 12:24AM
speedway is a gas station, BTW, not a diner.
NeverSage @ Mar 26th 2007 8:02PM
"The reason it's illegal is because in America anytime people trade money, the government is supposed to get a bit of it. Lottery is legal because a lot of it goes to pay for the school system(at least it's supposed to). If people make bets between each other it's a lot harder to track than if people give money, in exchange of a product."
You're right, of course, but that seems silly to me. Because it's hard to track, instead of getting taxes only from honest merchants, they make it illegal so they get taxes from no one? That doesn't sound like the government is looking out for its people to me.