Police closed down quarter push gaming from local stores
Coin-operated game violates Texas gambling laws, police chief says
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WHAT IS A QUARTER PUSH?
The machine has a glass front to showcase a moving tray filled with quarters. Players can drop a quarter in, and change that falls from the moving platform is dispensed as prize money.
The machines ...
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WHAT IS A QUARTER PUSH?
The machine has a glass front to showcase a moving tray filled with quarters. Players can drop a quarter in, and change that falls from the moving platform is dispensed as prize money.
The machines violate Texas penal code, which prohibits games of chance where players pay to win a cash prize, Ure said.
About a dozen local businesses have removed a popular coin-operated game at the urging of police, who call it illegal gambling.
So-called quarter-push machines violate state gambling laws, Police Chief Bruce Ure said.
In late June, officers visited about a dozen local businesses that had quarter pushes. Owners were told if the machines weren't moved within 24 hours, they'd be ticketed.
"People liked it, I know that," said Derel Reaves, the owner of Ramsey's Restaurant. The restaurant had one of the games for several months before the crack down. Ramsey's made about $800 from it monthly.
A representative from the company that owns the machine told Reaves it was legal in Texas.
"We believe most of these businesses were duped," Ure said.
He cites the same code that prohibits cash giveaways at eight-liner parlors.
Attorney Frank Henderson has been critical of some police attempts to curb what they call illegal gambling. Earlier this year, the department raided the Internet Cafe, a business Henderson represents. Police alleged the cafe was a gambling parlor. But Henderson said the cafe sold pre-paid phone cards and offered sweepstakes entries as a promotion. Criminal charges have not been filed in the case.
Henderson agreed with Ure's contention the quarter pushes are illegal.
"People are paying cash for a chance to win a cash prize," Henderson said. The only way to make it legal would be to offer players a way to win non-cash prizes worth less than $5 - for example dessert at a diner, he said.
The sudden enforcement was prompted by complaints about the machines, Ure said. The machines were in restaurants, stores and laundries, he said.
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Here is a list of online casino's. Gamble to your heart's content and don't worry about Victoria Police Department of Chief Bruce Ure giving you a hassle.
http://news.google.com/news?q=online+...
August 19, 2009 at 9:33 p.m.The mob, the mafia, and organized crime, use fear to run their illegal protection rackets. This mania by the chief for fighting gambling crime has all the hallmarks of putting the screws on any semblance of competition to the bingo parlor.
August 19, 2009 at 7:54 p.m.The manager of Palace Bingo seems to have the Chief of Police of Victoria Police Department kowtowing to him. It seems as though the police department is being used to rub out the competition.
August 19, 2009 at 7:48 p.m.If only there were a sarcasm font...
Good Job VPD!! That coin machine was starting to scare me. Thank goodness it is gone.
August 19, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.i need to ask, i just NEED to know. wht the hell is the victoria pd protecting the general public from?? ppl have the right to choose wht to do with there money. if they waste it all on gambling, then thts their problem. the police have no right whtsoever to interfere.
August 19, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.gambling laws are like prohibition laws its only because the rich do not want the working class to have a good time.
August 19, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.The chief doesn't seem to have many "citizens" who agree with this idiotic crackdown on "illegal" gambling. Who complained, The Texas Lottery or was it that other gambling din at the Palace Bingo?
August 18, 2009 at 9:05 p.m.Leslie - I guess fine-tuned sarcasm flies right over your head, huh? Did you honestly think I was that dense? I was being facetious....get it?
Seriously, I think the police are concentrating on the wrong kind of pushers.
August 18, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.There may still be gang and drug activity spread across Victoria but I will sleep better at night knowing that we have these evil quarter pushers shut down. What a fine use of resources! Maybe next they can raid some of these outlaw bunko groups that are such a menace! LMAO
August 18, 2009 at 7:44 p.m.Yes, just think of all the money that is being spent in other states because gambling is not legal in Texas.
August 18, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.robert i agree.
August 18, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.the chief of police should have much, much bigger concerncs than quarter machines.
a change in leadership is needed in vpd, asap
August 18, 2009 at 3:43 p.m.OK, shut down the quarter machines, but let bingo continue to let 8 years olds play and win, and also let peopel play eightliners, win and take winning tickets nad use them to pay for bingo packets...that my friends is paying cash....but they get away with it...they have been getting away with it for years...trust me - you win eightliners you use it to buy bingo, pull tabs and also food at the counter. None of these items are only valued at $5 and it would not matter anyway because people are using the tickets they win like cash to win cash - coundsl ike what the chief described the quarter machines as..using cash to win cash.
August 18, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.You don't hear about all gang bangers arrested, the narcotics arrest, the burglars caught, etc....BECAUSE the Advocate does not report it. But I don't blame them, who wants to be up at the middle of the night listening to a police scanner.
August 18, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.Has anyone considered, legalizing gambling might reduce illicit drug sales in the area. The money people spend gambling, would not be spent on drugs, duh!
Even the church has to admit, if legalized gambling could cut down on drug use; it should be considered. Ask a fireperson; sometimes you have to create a smaller fire to put out a bigger on, that is common sense.
These people are going to spend their money on a recreational activity, plain and simple; some might decide to spend their money on drugs, if they are not allowed to on gaming machines.
Come on now; I can't believe we are denying people quarter machines, that is a new low.
Texas gambling laws have to change and I can think of no better time than now! Texas laws, should serve the interest of the people of Texas; not Nevada or Oklahoma.
Like Obama supporters say, "If not now then when".
August 18, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.Jackdeuce: EXCELLENT POINT! Is this not a way to teach our children to gamble?
AltonEaston: Good point.
SugarM: NO PIE FOR ME,THANK YOU! (LOL)
-----Excuse me while I cough-----------------------
I've played those quarter pushers, and Dang it, I swear those quaters at the edge are glued on somehow! I don't play'em anymore!
Hey, instead of raising taxes, why don't we have a City lottery game? The funds can stay right here and the money can be used for local agencies like the Food Bank? I know, you might think the heat is getting to me, but it's only 86 degrees outside--Maybe it's Dain Bramage from yacking on these posts!
August 18, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.------------------OH WELL !!!----------------------
I am in awe of this...I can call PD with legit complaints about residents selling drugs on the property, to no avail..BUT...spend a quarter get a quarter and you gotta call out the swat team..OMG!!!
August 18, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.coin pushers ? what about gun,and drug pushers,police can be so silly sometimes.
August 18, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.Smoke police and now Quarter busters. Give me a break. I don’t play them but I have seen kids who enjoy them. I have seen them in stores and fairs and other fund raising events.Yeah I’m sure if you read the legal definition of the law it would be illegal to play them but we are talking about a quarter here. Of course having Police go undercover to bust a smoker at a bar where nobody gives a hoot if someone is smoking is kind of silly to. But it happens all the time. Three or four cops involved in undercover work to catch smokers While Dewitt County can catch a whole family dealing drugs. Where are our priorities? Does the police dept. really like being laughed at? What’s next” new speak” . 1984 got here a little late.
August 18, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.maybe instead of wasting time and money on finding fault with these machines. Maybe Ure should put officers at all walk trails. Yesterday I cringed when I saw this big monster truck going at least 50 mph on airline at the same time people were crossing you can imagine what was going through my mind those 5 people are going to die. The kid driving honks his horn. I called 911 and gave them the info they needed. I am sure nothing was done since he didn't kill anyone.
August 18, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.Talk about small town !!!!
August 18, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.Concerning another small town issue, I understand that recently it took four VPD cops to do an undercover enforcement operation targeting a smoking investigation resulting in ONE ticket!!!
Sugar - While the image of a dessert being pushed out of the machine is fantastic (can you imagine the poor bus boy who's always cleaning up the whipped cream?) I think the idea is to have quarter-sized tokens that name the player's prize.
August 18, 2009 at 9:25 a.m.Leslie
I find it funny that you can purchase a lottery ticket with cash and win cash on the spot. What difference is there in a "pusher". Lastly, I have been saying this chief needs to be replaced along time ago. What a waste of time and money VPD.
I can't help but picture our local law enforcement running around in capes acting like they are flying. Going into these establishments proclaiming that they are in "VIOLATION" DUN DUN DUHHHHHHHHHH!!! VPD here to save the day!!! LMAO
August 18, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.Priorities...it is almost funny, in the headlines you see DeWitt County making drug bust and putting criminals in jail, but in the Victoria headlines, well you see.
August 18, 2009 at 8:55 a.m."The sudden enforcement was prompted by complaints about the machines, Ure said."
C'mon, Chief...tell us WHO filed the complaints that prompted the "sudden enforcement" on these machines. That should be public information as well as the names of the establishments that had the machines. The Victoria Advocate should publish those names as well as the names of the businesses.
August 18, 2009 at 7:54 a.m.I think the Police and other people DA, Mayor, and etc. Use this an other things to help their egos, and get on the front page of the Victoria Advocate. Instead of using the manpower on felony crimes.
August 18, 2009 at 7:41 a.m.Oh, for the love of.......!!!!
OK, if they're going to give prizes like desert at a diner, can you picture it? A machine like the quarter pusher, only instead of pushing coins, it pushes deserts, slowly, slowly, to a waiting slot. Just a nickel to play, put your coin in the machine, and watch the little arm push the lemon meringue pie toward you.....wait for it.....SPLAT!! All yours, though maybe a little messy, not as pretty as it was in the machine. How about a little upside-down upside-down pineapple cake, anyone? Here goes.....SPLURT! Ooops, sorry about the mess, guys.....
Come on, get real!!!! How about we just LEGALIZE gambling once and for all in Texas and GET IT OVER WITH! I want my quarter pusher machine back at Ramsey's!!
August 18, 2009 at 12:29 a.m.What a waste of taxpayers money. Just how many hours were spent on this "enforcement"?
I have seen these machines in numerous locations. Most of the time no one is even playing the machine. And when someone plays them, it appears to me to be similar to the shot glass in a jar of water gamble. More of a novelty than actual expections of winning anything of value.
August 18, 2009 at 12:21 a.m.I see nothing wrong here. It is like pitching cash in a wishing "well", wishing for cash.
Come to think of it, I have not seen any "wishing wells" in Victoria.