LINCOLNTON -- Businesses across North Carolina were required to have all video poker machines deactivated and off premises when a new state law took effect July 1 that banned the machines.
Authorities in Lincoln County say that all of the businesses that had machines registered have complied with the new state ban.
According to Lt. Jeff Warlick with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the last machine was picked up at 3 p.m. Monday.
“A lot of the business owners I talked to said their machines were picked up late last week,” said Warlick. “We didn’t find any machines in operation.”
Warlick and LCSO chief deputy Barry Taylor spent Monday checking to see if the remaining 24 businesses with video poker have complied with the new state ban.
According to Warlick, the ban covers both business and personal use of video poker machines.
“You can’t even have them in your home,” said Warlick.
Warlick added that business owners, while not thrilled with the new law, had no problem complying with the new ordinance.
But what if Warlick and Taylor found a machine in operation?
According to Sheriff Tim Daugherty, if any machines were found to be in operation, the machines would be seized.
“I’d then have to get a court order to have the machines destroyed,” said Daugherty. “Then, they would go to the landfill and be destroyed.”
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