Slot ban in stores targeted

Denise Cardinal

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998 | 10:13 a.m.

Slot machines in the city's grocery and convenience stores are the latest target of Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who says the devices take away from the ambience of neighborhoods.

Jones is working on an ordinance that would phase out the existing machines in those locations while prohibiting any new ones from being installed.

The proposed ban was introduced on Monday during Jones' State of the City address. The main theme of her speech centered around the need for a sense of community in the city. Gaming machines in grocery stores and convenience stores, she said, take away from that goal.

"I think when you talk about community renaissance you're going to put the people who live in your neighborhoods first," she said. "The community has said time and time again that they don't want gaming to be in every part of their life."

The ordinance, which is being drafted by City Attorney Brad Jerbic, would phase out the machines over a period of time, allowing for store operators to recoup their investment in the equipment.

But local convenience store owners contend that taking out the machines -- regardless of the time period -- would put them under.

"I can tell you right now that of the three 7-Elevens I own, I wouldn't be able to have two of them without the slot machine business," said Vickie Hicks, a 7-Eleven franchisee and president of the 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association of Southern Nevada.

Hicks refers to the mayor's arguments about the machines' detrimental effect on neighborhoods as "a bunch of bunk," pointing out that the convenience stores are owned by small business owners like herself.

"We're community voters and parents," she said. "This is our community. To take that venue away from us is just devastating to a small business."

Barry Yost, another franchise owner, agrees. The first thing he'll have to eliminate without the gaming revenue, he said, is employee benefits.

The 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association, Yost said, will be looking to meet with Jones to discuss the details of the proposed ordinance.

"I honestly don't know what perspective she's coming from," he said, adding that there haven't been any other politicians who have voiced support for the ban. "Both consumers and constituents vote with their feet. If they didn't want the gaming in our stores, they wouldn't play the gaming in out stores."

The ordinance could be introduced as early as the Feb. 23 City Council meeting. The public hearing on the matter would be within 30 days after that meeting.