The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • Lucky Land Internet Cafe on N.C. 33 outside of Tarboro is one of several sweepstakes business that is in jeopardy of closing. Staff photo/Calvin Adkins Calvin Adkins

    sweepstake.jpg
December 20, 2012

Video sweepstakes games in jeopardy

CALVIN ADKINS Staff reporter

TARBORO — With the North Carolina Supreme Court’s ruling on Video sweepstakes game last Friday, the future appears bleak for the businesses. The court ruled the state’s ban on video sweepstakes games isn’t an infringement on free speech.

The state’s highest court ruled in two cases in which amusement machine and other companies sought to overturn a 2010 law banning sweepstakes machines as a form of gambling. The court said the law was a constitutional effort to close a loophole since the state outlawed video poker machines in 2007.  

The decision reverses a March ruling by the state court of appeals which said the move to outlaw the games was written too broadly and was unconstitutional.

The makers of software that drives sweepstakes gambling systems say they are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court and have asked the State Supreme Court to stay an order banning the games.

Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight said the ruling allows law-enforcement to enforce the verdict beginning Jan. 3. “However, the N.C. Sheriff’s Association will get together and talk with the attorney general to make sure that every county is enforcing the law the same way,” Knight said.

Despite the ruling, Tony Blackey, the owner of Lucky Lane Internet Cafe just outside of Tarboro on N.C. Highway 33, remains optimistic he will not be forced to close his businesses. He also owns one video sweepstake game business in Whitaker and two in Roanoke Rapids.

“This is blown out of proportion,” he said. “Right now, everybody is jumping to conclusion. The only thing that is going to happen is that they will govern it a little closer.”

Blackey said the games are just like playing the lottery. He has his theory why politicians are fighting to close the sweepstake businesses.

“It just political,” he said. “They need to leave us alone and everything will be all right. It’s no worse than playing bingo. I don’t see them talking about shutting bingo parlors down.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association on Monday told the state’s 100 county law enforcement officers that standard guidelines mean the law can be enforced beginning on Jan. 3.  If they close, 15 employees from Blackey’s  businesses will be unemployed.

“They need to take care of the American people’s Medicare and Social Security and stuff like that instead of trying to put us out of business,” he said. “There’s already too much unemployment in this state and now they are going to add to it.”

Video sweepstakes establishments have proliferated statewide since the state outlawed video poker machine six years ago. There are at least three in Tarboro and another 10 in Edgecombe County, not including Rocky Mount.

Doristine Vines, of Princeville is an avid customer of video sweepstakes businesses. Vines doesn’t want to see the business close, but she understand the political aspect.

“We must abide by the rules and regulations of the state,” she said. “They are saying that some earning like $6,000 and $7,000 should be taxed. If the earnings were taxed, I don’t think the state would be going after them.

“I like going because it gives me something to do. It’s a hobby for me.”

The games are also a hobby for Yatty Williams of Rocky Mount, who plays in an establishment in Tarboro. She doesn’t want to see the businesses close either.

“Whether I’m winning or not, that’s not important,” she said. “I like coming here because it relaxes me.

Sweepstakes operators and their attorneys say they’re confident they can make changes in the games so that they can stay in business.



(The Associated Press assisted with this story)

 

Text Only
Local News
  • CRIME.jpg Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation

    After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
    After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • S.Herring.jpg Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday

    Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
    Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • DWI-Tests.jpg NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Susan-Barnes-headshot.jpg Measles cases have state health officials concerned

    Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
    “It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • MLK-Property.jpg County still looking for bids on 41 properties

    While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
    County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Buddy.jpg Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks

    Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sheriff_Knight.jpg Sheriff's Department to host junior academy

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Andrews.jpg Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services

    John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
    Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday

    At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
    “I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.”

    May 13, 2013

  • Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend

    One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.

    May 13, 2013