Video poker talk resurfaces at NC Legislature

By The Associated Press

Published: July 7, 2009

RALEIGH - Arcade machine owners who want to return to the video poker business in North Carolina say they want to remove the cloud hanging over the games.

A House judiciary committee heard about a bill Tuesday to legalize video gambling terminals again and give the state 20 percent of the profits. The Legislature banned the machines in July 2007, but there has been a series of legal rulings that threaten to invalidate the ban.

Video poker had been tainted because one of its biggest supporters was then-House Speaker Jim Black. He is in federal prison after pleading guilty to a corruption count unrelated to video poker.

No vote was taken on the bill Tuesday. There's not much support from leaders in the House and Senate.