Video poker operators file federal lawsuit against ban

ROME - A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday on a federal lawsuit filed by video poker operators who are seeking to overturn a state law banning the machines. <br> <br> A Ringgold truck stop and six other machine operators from Rome and northwest Georgia, are asking U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy to quash the July 1 deadline set by the Georgia Supreme Court to have the machines out of the state. <br> <br> The General Assembly passed a measure outlawing the machines during last summer&#39;s special session. <br> <br> The operators were able to escape a Jan. 1 deadline with a ruling from a Fulton County court, but the state Supreme Court upheld the video poker ban on May 28. <br> <br> ``Now that the video poker industry has lost in state court, it&#39;s not surprising that they have chosen to try their luck in federal court,&#39;&#39; said Russ Willard, a spokesman with the Georgia Attorney General&#39;s Office. Willard said the state has has not yet filed a response. <br> <br> Murphy dismissed an earlier attempt by the operators in federal court because of lack of jurisdiction. <br> <br> Operators and owners are required to unplug their machines and have them removed from the state. They claim that violates constitutional protections against unlawful taking and deprivation of due process.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/6/193352