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State police vow crackdown on bars that pay on machines

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

POCATELLO, Idaho -- The Idaho State Police crackdown on bars that pay money to people who use electronic poker machines ought to send a message to other bars doing the same thing: Stop.

"It would be best to get them out of there," said Rick Ohnsman, an Idaho State Police spokesman. "They're tempting fate. They never know when well come and knock on their door."

The Alcohol Beverage Control division of the state police confiscated 50 of the machines last week in 13 bars in the Boise Valley and Coeur d'Alene areas.

"We're fully aware that these are in bars in other parts of the state," Ohnsman said.

State law makes it illegal for owners of the machines to pay money or anything of value, including drinks, out to people who play them. While those busted in the crackdown face misdemeanor charges, the bars also risk losing their liquor licenses.

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