<magically appears on Floor, dressed in dapper suit and tie>
Representatives,
Thank you for allowing me to testify on behalf of my bill.
Imagine for a second that you've gone to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Your purpose there is an obvious one; you seek to be entertained, and perhaps walk away with more money than you came with.
Now, imagine that one particular night, you're playing one of the casino's big slot machines. Lady Luck smiles on you, as lo and behold, you hit the jackpot. You're ecstatic at your good fortune, thinking you've just struck it rich.
That's when it happens. "Hold on a second", one of the overseeing supervisors says. After a few minutes of talking things over with staff, he says,
"well....you didn't actually win. The machine malfunctioned, so we can't pay you. Please accept our apology...and a steak dinner instead".
Incredulous, you argue with the supervisor, saying there's no evidence of a malfunction. Dismissive, he says "a malfunction voids all plays and pays.
Sorry...that's the way it goes". So rather than walking out of the casino flush with cash, you get...
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Seemingly, this scenario could never happen, right? Yet over the past few years, there have been many instances of exactly this type of occurrence.
The casino industry defends themselves by saying that when machines malfunction, they are not required to pay out. Nevertheless, to quote Heather Songer of the Washington State Gambling Commission,
"Nationwide, it's extremely rare to see a major machine malfunction"
.
Regarding this, one can reach only one logical conclusion; that the casinos are either unable or unwilling to deliver on the promises they make. I submit that they should be held to the same standards as any other business. Customers shouldn't have to wonder if they will be treated fairly, and if the casino will be true to its word. With that in mind, I have introduced this bill.
If you will indulge me for a moment, I wish to detail Section IV of this legislation, dealing with General Provisions.
You will notice that Clause 1 of this section mandates that gaming machines be inspected every six months, according to the gaming commissions of the individual states. The purpose of these inspections would be to ascertain whether a machine has been, or reasonably could be, operating in such a manner as to make regular play impossible. This, of course, speaks to the "malfunction" defense of the various casinos. If a machine is found to be incapable of malfunctioning in such a manner, it is my opinion that the employed defense must fail.
Now, I can't do anything about Native American casinos, as they are operated by sovereign Native American nations, and (arguably) not subject to federal law. What can and should be done concerns non-Native American facilities.
As with any other industry, those walking in the doors of a gaming facility have the right to expect
fair and equitable treatment. That's what the passage of this bill would accomplish. It would put casinos on notice;
if you rip people off, there will be consequences, as of right there should be.
I yield the Floor for questions and debate.
