CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Limited video lottery retailers and machine distributors raised concerns Wednesday that a proposed West Virginia Lottery Commission rule change could put their employees at greater risk of being robbed.
The commission is attempting to clarify state Lottery law regarding how video lottery retailers — bar and club owners — and machine distributors are to split their share of video lottery profits.
As drafted, the rule change would clarify that, under state law, payments between distributors and retailers have to be by check or electronic transfer — not cash.
During Wednesday's commission meeting, several retailers and distributors said enforcing that law could cause problems — including putting employees of video lottery distributors at greater risk, since they would be carrying twice as much cash after "sweeping" machines at each video lottery location.
"Word will get out that our men are carrying thousands of dollars in cash," said Champ Kerns, operator of Viking Video and Music in Dunbar. "The reason for my concern is my son is my primary collector."
Many distributors give retailers their share of profits on site, in cash, he said. If they can't pay the retailers immediately in cash, they'll have to leave the retail site with all the cash from the machines, and then pay the retailers later.
Garrett Stanley, owner of the Alley Cat II bar in Huntington, said enforcing the prohibition on cash transactions could hurt small retailers, who are required to keep sufficient cash on hand to pay out large video lottery winnings.
"Having to wait on that check or deposit could cause a problem," said Stanley, who said it could also worsen security issues, noting that his bar has been robbed "13 or 14 times" since it installed video lottery machines.
"It's not a laughing matter to me. It really has happened," he said.
George Carenbauer, a Charleston lawyer representing the West Virginia Amusement and Limited Video Lottery Association, agreed that "there are some security concerns."
Lottery Director John Musgrave pointed out that the law prohibiting cash transactions is intended to make it easier for Lottery officials to audit payments between retailers and distributors.
Under the law, the state gets 52 percent of the profits from each video lottery machine. Retailers who "lease" their machines from distributors are to get no less than 40 percent and no more than 50 percent of the remaining share of profits.
However, Musgrave said the Lottery has received complaints from retailers who contend their distributors are deducting expenses from their share of the profits, including such costs as annual license renewal fees — and in some cases, the costs of bids to obtain the new 10-year LVL licenses. That drops them below the 40 percent minimum.
Commission chairman Ken Greear told Musgrave to schedule a public hearing on the rule change before the commission's October meeting.
"Having to wait on that check or deposit could cause a problem," said Stanley, who said it could also worsen security issues, noting that his bar has been robbed "13 or 14 times" since it installed video lottery machines."
Robbed 13 or 14 times? You gotta be freakin kiddin me! WTF?
If somebody was lucky enough to get the drop on me ONE TIME they'd be very lucky.
And the 2nd time they tried it I'd be waiting and they'd be going home in a big black ziplock bag. Guaranteed
Ridgey don't play dat.
There's no excuse for allowing yourself to be robbed repeatedly.
The word is probably getting out on how easy it is to rob that place and now everybody's doing it.
I'd bet money the owner is a typical lib who hates guns.
And the bad guys know it.
Robbed 13 times, sounds fishy to me, Hope someone with a brain is investigating that.
Ding ! Cuckoo !
Sounds unfortunate that the distributors would deduct fees from licensing and other procedures straight from the retailers' profits. I read something about how retailers only make 5 cents for every 1 dollar they sell in lottery tickets. Life ain't fair. I guess I can't make judgments until we find out how big the distributors' cut of their lotto pie is... Good luck on tonight's Mega Millions!
I have spoken with several store owners and they described the robberies like this, "Several Men burst into the establishment with guns pointed at peoples heads ready to kill them. Not only do they rob the establishment they also rob the customers!. They are all high on something screaming and yelling It's an ambush."
Now the point that I am makng is this if someone gets the jump on you (and I'm sure that this has happened with the above multi-robbery situation) puts a gun in your face and threatens to blow your brains out you will not be ready to take them out. You are at a disadvantage by the surprise attack. Folks who rob those places don't even care about security. Because they know that security guards are afraid of guns too. The robbers are very violent people.
I personally wouldn't visit one of those places if I was guaranteed double the money. My life is more important to me than that. Have you noticed that it doesn't go down in Vegas like that? Because robbers know better! There is no recourse here when these little "sweepstakes" places get robbed.
Something to think about.
Crooks know the badged-tax-parasites won't get there in time.
In most of the country -- time enough to save the victim from the crooks.
In LV -- time enough to save the crooks from casino "security".
In Louisiana, when video poker machines got popular, a new crime that got popular was breaking into businesses that have video poker machines. Criminals break into restaurants, bars, etc., after they've closed and empty out the poker machines since they're full of cash.
So do you suggest the owners of these establishments just lay down and take it because there are several men with guns?
Turn over the money they earned legally because a bunch of doped-up dirtbags demand it?
13 or 14 times?
Everytime?
Uh-uh, nope.
I know a lotta guys with guns too, who know how to use em.
We'd be waitin for em.
If you've been robed a dozen or more times, then it's time to hire armed 24/7 security. Although, I would bet that the money that has been stolen is FAR less than the cost of hightened security which is why it hasn't been implemented yet. Context really does matter here. I would invest in HD surveilence with audio and get in good with the cops. That or change how you operate so there is less to steal.
Pulling out a gun and going head to head with these people is likely only going to get bystanders and yourself killed. I've actually been shot at. It's a completely different world than relaxing in your creaky recliner watching John Wayne movies on AMC...
"Pulling out a gun and going head to head with these people is likely only going to get bystanders and yourself killed. I've actually been shot at."
You've actually been shot at? OMG! Goodness gracious! Heavens to Betsy! LOL.
Listen up mayhem, let the men handle this kinda stuff, that's what men do.
Guys like you need to be with the women and children and just basically stay the hell out of the way while the men take care of business.
What provoked all of that? Struck a nerve did I? That actually tells us a lot more about yourself than I bet you'd want us to know. lol.
Oh and I'm glad you thought it was funny that I've been shot at. It was an ak-47, full magazine worth. Too bad the guy was a *terrible* shot. So yeah, it was kinda funny. I actually have and love guns. It worries me though that "men" like you might have them too. There was a time (I hope) when people weren't so woefully lost in their self aggrandizing delusions. Please go take some more anti-depressants and stick to one-liners. It's what your good at.
You've been shot at, wow, we're all impressed, it's so rare nowadays! What do you want, a medal or a chest to pin it on?
Listen numbnuts, our armed forces are getting shot at and killed everyday and you know what they do? They go after the guys that shoot at them and they kill them. They don't "get in good with the cops." They don't "install surveillance with audio." They don't call 911. They do what men do, they fight back and they kill the enemy.
What did you do when you supposedly got shot at? I'll tell you what you did - NOTHING, Absolutely NOTHING. But now you brag about getting shot at like you accomplished something. You're an idiot.
Go help your comrades occupy Wall Street or something.
lol. They deleted my last post. What a shame. Gotta love double standards.