Report: Half of Green Bay’s bars have illegal machines

Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Half the bars in the city have video slots and poker machines, even though the devices are illegal, a newspaper reported.

Workers at about half the bars with the machines admitted they pay out cash prizes, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Two of the newspaper's reporters visited 142 licensed taverns in Green Bay this week to count the machines and ask workers whether they pay out for jackpots.

The newspaper found 83 bars with a total of 269 video-gambling machines. The reporters talked to 37 bar workers who said they pay out.

The city has a total of 165 licensed bars.

The Tavern League of Wisconsin has proposed allowing licensed taverns to have up to five machines and splitting the revenue with the state. The state would own the machines and operate them under the state lottery program.

Supporters of the proposal say it would help ease the state's estimated $3.2 billion deficit through the 2003-2005 budget.