Wednesday, May 15, 2024–12:16 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

As anticipated, a county ordinance regarding coin-operated amusement machines was put onto first reading during Tuesday’s Floyd County Commission meeting.

County Manager Jamie McCord explained what is in the ordinance.

“It gives definitions of what an amusement game room is versus a bona fide coin-operated amusement machine, he said. “It defines the location, location owner, and the location of the operator.  It will, as written, require a license and may have a fee of up to $500. That’s ’may’ not ‘shall.’ It has minimum distance requirements that are equal to our alcohol regulations.”

It also requires quarterly reports for gross receipts showing that no more than 50 percent of the store’s revenue comes from gaming machines.

It also requires compliance with state law regarding master license location, etc.

“The Floyd County Alcohol Control Commission would handle the license suspension and revocation and has rules set up for that as well,” McCord said. “There are also penalties and violations for first offense, second offense, and third offense, as well as operating regulations on where an attendant has to be, loitering, inspections, kept in plain view, so forth and so on. It also has a sunset provision to come into compliance within 12 months of the enactment of this ordinance is approved.”

A vote to approve the ordinance is slated for the next county commission meeting on May 28.