Illegal gambling machines destroyed in Kansas

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A couple dozen illegal gambling machines have been destroyed after they were confiscated from a supplier who had placed them in businesses across Kansas.

This past week, a large earth-mover machine drove over a dozen of the machines in Topeka, while the giant bucket of a front-end loader fell heavily on a dozen others in Wichita.

A Johnson County supplier had placed them in businesses ranging from convenience stores to fraternal organizations. The businesses had turned in the machines to authorities after learning they weren't legal.

"I think business owners have them out of ignorance, that's why we concentrate on going after the suppliers," said Stephen Martino, executive director of the commission.

He said the machines go by such names as "quarter slider," "quarter pusher" or "Cherry Master." They typically display a row of quarters on a ledge. The player attempts to place another quarter in position to cause a broom brushing across the top to knock down more quarters to be retrieved by the player.

Martino said the machines give users virtually no chance of winning and added that they are particularly troubling because they seem designed to appeal to children.

The commission assumed responsibility for controlling such gaming devices in 2008 as a result of an expanded gaming law. Since then, it has dealt with more than 500 complaints of such machines in 58 of the state's 105 counties.

He explained that three criteria define gambling -- prize, chance and consideration. If any element is missing, it isn't gambling.

If there is no prize, it is OK. If no chance is involved, no problem. And if the player doesn't have to put up any money to play, it is legal. That is why some games of chance offered by restaurants and other retailers are legal as long as the customers don't have to pay anything for a chance to play.