MCMOA elects Mears president
The Montana Coin Machine Operators Association held its summer meeting in Kalispell July 16-18 with Thursday and Friday devoted to members golfing in the Flathead Valley and enjoying great dinners and fellowship at both the Nite Owl and North Bay.
The gaming and amusement machine vendor route operators reserved Saturday morning at the Hilton Garden for the business meeting.
The treasurer’s report indicated that the State 8-Ball Tournament was a success, ending in the black and raising over $3,000 for the memorials for Phil Benson and Stan Larsen.
Chris Warren reported on his recent trip to Croatia for the IDA (International Dart Federation) World Dart Championships. Over 3,000 dart players visited Zadar, Croatia June 20-27, Warren told the group. The week began with the European Dart Championships and then finished with the World Dart Tournament. Warren will assume the presidency of the U.S. National Dart Association in 2010.
Tourism is the largest industry in the former Soviet block country and Warren said that they were treated very well and he was repeatedly asked to tell Americans to come visit the country.
The MCMOA will discuss, at their fall meeting, the possibility of hosting a Montana State Dart Tournament.
As Tim Carson was out on “sick leave,” Warren also gave the national American Machine Operators’ Association report. The national expo will be held September 24-26 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The theme for the year is Reset, Retool and Reinvest.
AMOA members are selling raffle tickets for a Honda motorcycle in order to raise funds for the Hesch Scholarship Fund. This year’s Montana recipient of the scholarship was from Manhattan Christian School, Bryen Venema, who will be attending Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyo., Warren reported.
Rick Ask, Montana's Gambling Control Division administrator, gave an update on the activities of the Gaming Advisory Council and reported that fourth quarter gambling revenues are down from 2008.
When asked about his plans for the operations of the division, Ask indicated that he did not anticipate that there would be any major changes under his leadership.
Ronda Wiggers’ lobbyist report covered three recent rules hearings, the first being the Gambling Control Division proposed rules on credit cards and the licensing of associated businesses. Wiggers noted the Division had made changes from the first draft and that an MCMOA suggestion to clarify that credit cards can be accepted for other purchases at a licensed establishment was included.
The Division also clarified with the final rules that a credit card can be used to purchase a gift certificate at a licensed establishment as long as that gift certificate is not redeemable for cash, Wiggers explained.
She also reported on the Department of Public Health and Human Services rule change proposal to allow violations of the indoor smoking act to be reported anonymously. It was agreed that MCMOA would follow up with written comment in opposition to the rule proposal.
Finally, Wiggers told the members that the Montana Supreme Court has taken no action on their proposed rules to govern the unlicensed practice of law. Comments were submitted requesting the Court not adopt the rules in their proposed form as they would make it difficult for anyone to lobby on behalf of an association or act as the executive director without first having a license to practice law in Montana, Wiggers said.
Committee reports included information on the activities of the Montana Council on Problem Gambling. They provided help for 3,525 people in 2008 through 1,322 group counseling sessions. MCMOA confirmed their commitment to supporting this organization.
Pictures, plans and ideas for outdoor smoking areas were shared among those in attendance. A contractor in Lewistown has designed an inexpensive and easily portable shelter and is waiting for an approval from the local building inspector.
State revenue estimates were next on the agenda. The Legislature’s revenue estimates had anticipated a consistent growth in gambling tax revenue, Wiggers said. Although final numbers are not in, it appears that fourth quarter of 2009 is down about 4 percent from 2008, she said. She indicated there has been no planned adjustment in revenue estimates for a potential downturn in gaming revenue due to the implementation of the smoking ban October 1.
However, it is not only gaming tax revenue that is down, Wiggers noted. She shared a report from the Legislative Fiscal Division that indicates tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2009, which ended June 30, may be as much as $36 million less than originally anticipated.
The meeting finished with election of officers.
Matt Foster of Mears Music was elected President. Tom Baker with Baker Amusement was elected Vice President. Natalie Carson of Amusement Services was re-elected to a second term as Secretary and Clint Lohman of Lohman Games and Rocky Mountain Gaming was elected treasurer.
The summer convention ended "pleasantly" with dinner at Scotty’s and a boat trip on Lake McDonald which is on the west side of Glacier National Park.