Floyd County Gaming Machine Ordinance Taking Shape

Floyd County will likely leverage its ability to regulate convenience stores to address what they consider an explosion in the number of local electronic gambling machines.

Six-month moratoriums on new gaming machines, officially the Class B coin-operated amusement machines, have been enacted in the county, Rome and Cave Spring while regulations on the machines are crafted.

“Our ordinance will do everything we can do within the law,” County Attorney Chris Jackson said. “Our ordinance will probably closely resemble the Rome ordinance.”

In a Thursday called meeting of the Floyd County Public Safety Committee, Jackson indicated they will use existing ordinances regulating convenience stores to bolster their ability to regulate the machines which fall under the umbrella of the Georgia Lottery.

“Most of our problem locations are within convenience stores,” Jackson said. “So maybe we don’t have a COAM problem as much as we have a convenience store problem.”

Jackson distributed an outline of proposed options that could be included in the ordinance, mirroring many of the options being considered by Rome officials.

However, Jackson acknowledged that since COAMs are more of an issue in Rome than in Floyd County, the city may have a more aggressive legal posture than the county.

“You can’t govern while being worried about if you’re going to get sued,” Floyd County Commissioner Scotty Hancock said. “I worry that if we don’t act now, we’ll still be talking about this problem a year from now.”

By looking at convenience stores, Jackson suggested multiple existing ordinances that can be used to help regulate the gaming machines.

Officials also discussed requiring a license for the machines, which Jackson said is legal.

“Yes, as far as we know, requiring a license for COAM machines is legal,” Jackson said. “However, the lawyers for the lottery say we cannot charge a fee for the license.”

Officials also expressed amazement that there is currently no age limit to play these games, while someone has to be at least 18 to purchase a Georgia Lottery Ticket.

“You need to be 18 years old to step onto the casino floor in Las Vegas, but in Georgia, anyone can play the ding-dings,” Jackson said.