Bingo Pinballs

Created on 09-24-2010 _ Last update 06-23-2020

In the late 50s Law Enforcement basically went after the games ~ Illegal Pinballs`

Now what that meant varied for years and varied state-to-state, even varied from county-to-county`

So naturally there was a bit of confusion and more than a bit of avoidance, where Owner/Operators dependant

upon profits started modifying the machines a bit to keep them “legal” and out earning`

The association to Multi-Coin ~ Multiple-Coin pinball had to be avoided, so 1000s of machines saw a change over in name

to Single Coin ~ Player Instruction and Score Cards also changed to highlight ~ Single Coin`

Most all of the games having signs posted up top or small notes down on the playfield to identify how the machine

was for “Amusement Only” ~ “Must be 18 or Older” ~ “No Miners” – etc`

There is no gambling going on here ~ There are no school-children here losing their lunch money ~ This is legit`

“Hey Federal Agents have a list of the names of Bingos to seize and destroy” but hey, Bowling Games are still ok`

Themes like Bowl-a-Line and Shoot-a-Line are still Cool, so change the name of your Bingos`

Advancing Odds not OK`

Extra Balls not OK`

Only “Skill” games are allowed’

No “Free Play”

No Meters

On-and-on`

The first round of subterfuge originated with Bally themselves, releasing the Queen Machines and the Barrel and Fun games to work around the “Free Play” laws in states like Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania _ Often referenced as Ohio Dime games, these bingos dumped the replay meters and placed stepped-scores in the backglass and that worked for a while _ If no games were being registered on a meter, then they weren’t being kicked-off and paid on.

Virginia:

The "free plays" awarded by a multiple coin pinball machine are a prize because they have some value to the player either in playing additional games without charge or receiving a "payoff," and where "free plays" are won predominantly by chance rather than skill for a consideration by virtue of the coins placed in the machine, it is a lottery per se. State v. Wassick, 191 S.E.2d 283 (W. Va.).

As the fight against these pins raged on, it was being fought on several fronts, but the major argument was that the bingos were to be considered gambling machines because the “players could change/alter the odds and features of the machines by putting in more coins” and why on earth would that be true, unless they were gambling devices – A pretty compelling argument being voiced and heard across the country. Hence, the multi-coin pinball references and the next evolution of changing many of the bingo names over to Single Coin. This step is where some of the confusion came into play in areas like Ohio and Pennsylvania where first they were allowed, then OK’d only by extension, and then outlawed altogether – etc.

_ Some Single Coin Notes _

_ Some Mulit-Coin Notes _

_ Some Increasing Odds Notes _

Mayors Nest

The day after Daniel F. (for Francis) McDevitt took office as Democratic mayor of Reading, Pa. last January, he made a florid announcement: he was going to drive out the gamblers. He gave pinball-machine operators 24 hours to get rid of some 1,000 "multi-coin" machines (in which players can insert a number of nickels to boost payoff odds). But Mc-Devitt's crusade was a resounding flop. After 19 days, in which three pinball distributors and two operators were arrested, he lifted the ban. His reason: the city (pop. 114,200) could not legally outlaw the machines. But Daniel McDevitt warned citizens nevertheless that Reading's 150-man force would maintain "sharp vigilance" to prevent gambling. Vowed the mayor: "We shall not permit the location of such devices near schools."

--------------------------------

Arkansas Code

5-66-111. Pinball machines, etc.

(a)(1) Any coin-operated pinball machine or other device that is designed so that more than one (1) coin can be inserted so as to give the player additional odds in making a high score or winning an additional free game is unlawful.

(2) The operation of the coin-operated pinball machine or other device described in subdivision (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor that is punishable by the imposition of a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both.

(b) It is the intent of this section to prohibit the use of so-called "bingo"-type pinball machines, the interstate transportation of which is prohibited by 15 U.S.C. § 1172.

(c)(1) A coin-operated amusement device, including a pinball machine, that takes only one (1) coin for each player for each game and that is equipped with flippers that can be activated by the player to propel a ball back onto the playing surface of the machine so as to prolong the playing time and increase the score attained by the player and upon which not more than twenty-five (25) free games can be won by the player are specifically designated as an amusement device.

(2) The use of an amusement device described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section is declared to be legal so long as all state and municipal taxes have been paid and the owner of the amusement device has obtained a permit, filed a bond, and paid the privilege tax required by § 26-57-401 et seq.

Even among the experts: Lawyers, Judges, FBI, and local Law Enforcement it was easy to see how convoluted things were.

There were no real absolute black-and-whites, dos and don’ts - etc – No general agreement, consensus, or alignment`

There was basically a ten years period there, 1957-t0-1967, where things were kind of influx, offering some wiggle-room`

Until the Courts working things out and passed some final decree`the shell-game continued to play out.

_ Seizures Related _

The authorities trying to weld these directions had to be working off lists of what was acceptable and what was not.

The game names started disappearing and the cabinets were being repainted, so likely the law-boys were also working off of

Pictures. Probably the Press Release images accompanied by a list of Bingos by name`

Later by Features, so we start seeing them stripped off the machines too.

Changing ~ Different

Only 1-card was allowed

Only 6-cards is allowed

Flippers are good

No Knock-off Switches allowed

Basically all coin-play features were restricted

Single-Coin play for Amusement Only was the order-of-the-day

Bowl-a-Line was the acceptable name, even phasing out Single-Coin

Even later, up into the late 60s the laws were still being settled out to try and bring some cohesive direction for everyone to follow,

and that is where the Type II and Type III designations came into play. None-the-less, shell-game continued on and that even

led to many bingos being modified with flippers.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE DIVISION

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This matter comes before me pursuant to a citation issued by the Department of Revenue ("Department") against Scott Sheets, d/b/a S&S Amusements for violating S.C. Code Ann. 12-21-2720(A)(3) (Supp. 1995), by operating a nonpayout type in-line pin game without the proper license at Porter's Quick Stop. After notice to the parties, a hearing was conducted on November 4, 1996.

· This Division has subject matter jurisdiction in this case.

· Notice of the date, time, place and nature of the hearing was given to all parties.

· On April 4, 1996, during an inspection of Porter's Quick Stop, Revenue Officer Kermit Hines issued an administrative violation for operating the "Miss Nevada" (Serial #862632) without a Type III machine license.

· The Department inspected and photographed the Miss Nevada machine and in its Final Determination Letter dated July 17, 1996, the Department determined that the "Miss Nevada" is an in-line pin game machine and is required to have a Type III license.

• The "Miss Nevada" is a nonpayout pin table game. Specifically, it is an in-line pin table and it is equipped with levers or flippers that can be used to alter the course of the ball.

• Previously, the Department, through its Public Assistance Supervisor Michael W. Dawes, sent a letter dated July 28, 1995 to Frank McGuire Amusements in Rock Hill, South Carolina, stating that machines such as the "Miss Nevada" meet the definition of "Type II" machines as long as they have flippers.

_ Again, there was history behind this history _ A Snap Shot of the States in 54’ _

But through it all, the Feds never lost sight of their agenda to capitalize on the money associated with this industry`

Uncle Sam wanted his share and he was going to get it. For Washington D.C the bingos meant one thing and only one thing`

So there was also a little give-and-take going on, some leniency awarded`

Really only a few “old ladies” and zealots wanted the games banned` U.S. Government only wanted in the “money”

Keep your machine, get a Tax Stamp` the motto of the day`-

BB Sept 14^th, 1959

BB Jan 9^th, 1961

Sadly enough, some local governments, State, finally did outlaw pinballs just to curb Organized Crime in their areas top the drain

on time-and-resources when they finally realized they would never make money off the games`

A very long story, much more involved than this little account`

…but this telling does help illustrate my point, on why we see so many modified machines`

Even after all these years, you still see these machines around ~ There were 10-of-1000s of them`

<<<Associated Links>>>

http://danny.cdyn.com/singlecoin3.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/Queen%20Machines.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/queens2.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/etown.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/blackout.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/FBI3.htm

http://danny.cdyn.com/FBI22.htm

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