COLDSPRING — Mayor John Benestante and the city of Coldspring finally passed a well-thought-out ordinance that prohibits amusement redemption machines, gambling devices, and game rooms.
At the June 1 meeting, the council reviewed the ordinance, which cites public health, safety, and welfare as key factors in its construction due to the increase of robberies, assaults, and other criminal activities associated with gambling establishments.
With Coldspring being a small community with limited government resources, adverse impacts contributed by gambling are augmented to the public.
“The City Council finds that complete prohibition of amusement redemption machines, gambling devices, and game rooms is the most effective means available to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and quality of life of the citizens of the City,” the ordinance states.
“Amusement Redemption Machines” are defined as “any electronic, electromechanical, computerized, video, mechanical, or other device activated by coin, token, currency, card, credit, electronic payment, or other thing of value that, through chance or chance combined with skill, awards or provides an opportunity to receive cash, credits, tickets, coupons, points, merchandise, prizes, rewards, gift cards, replay credits, or anything of value. The term includes, without limitation, devices commonly known as eight-liners, gaming machines, fish games, sweepstakes machines, video redemption machines, gaming terminals, and skill machines, or similar devices.”
Game rooms typically operate in commercial establishments such as convenience stores, retail businesses, and lodging facilities that are occupied daily by the community. The ordinance states that there are studies that show gambling establishments tend to evade enforcement actions by changing ownership, business entities, and/or property interests.
The ordinance also states there are four school campuses in the city's school district and visibility to gambling devices can be harmful to the children. “The City Council finds that protection of children from exposure to gambling-related activities is a legitimate and substantial governmental interest", according to the ordinance.
However, the ordinance does not prohibit ordinary family amusement activities such as toy vending devices, candy vending devices, children’s rides, and games operated for entertainment purposes.
Any violation of the ordinance will be considered a Class C misdemeanor and fined no more than $500. Each day a violation exists will be a separate offense and each machine will constitute a separate violation.
The new ordinance will be implemented immediately.
