The City of Pampa recently held a special city commission meeting revolving around the discussion item of VFW Post 1657’s Game Room.
The discussion started with VFW Post 1657’s Commander, John Tripplehorn, thanking the city commission for hosting the special meeting.
Tripplehorn then went on to introduce the officers of Post 1657, the members and their positions are as follows: RJ Howell as the Senior Vice Commander, Charlie Martin as the Junior Vice Commander and Pat Montoya as the Quartermaster.
Once the introduction concluded, Tripplehorn got into the central point of the special meeting: The VFW’s Game Room.
“We would like the opportunity for the city to grandfather us into letting us go back into [the game room] with some skill games,” Tripplehorn said.
The City of Pampa does have a Code of Ordinances (Article 4.04) regarding gaming machines. Below is a description of the article along with the definitions of coin-operated machines and skill or pleasure coin-operated machines.
Article 4.04.001 Definitions:
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
• Coin-operated machine. Every machine or device of any kind or character which is operated by or with coins, metal slugs, tokens, or checks, including merchandise or music coin-operated machines and skill or pleasure coin-operated machines.
• Skill or pleasure coin-operated machines. Every coin-operated machine of any kind or character whatsoever, when such machine or machines dispense or are used or are capable of being used or operated for amusement or pleasure or when such machines are operated for the purpose of dispensing or affording skill or pleasure, or for any purpose other than the dispensing or vending of merchandise or music or service exclusively. The following are expressly included within this term: marble machines, marble table machines, marble shooting machines, racetrack machines, miniature football machines, miniature golf machines, miniature bowling machines, and all other coin-operated machines which dispense or afford skill or pleasure, provided that every machine or device of any kind or character which dispenses or vends merchandise, commodities or confections or plays music in connection with or in addition to such games or dispensing of skill or pleasure shall be considered as skill or pleasure machines and taxed at the higher rate fixed for such machines.
Tripplehorn goes on to stress that, should the city and county commissioners allow for the reopening of skill games in the game room, the VFW would hire off-duty police officers and deputies to run security.
Soon after, David Glickler, the Attorney for the VFW and Pace-O-Matic (the software company that develops and produces said skill games) gave an in-depth presentation on the skill machines that could be implemented.
The presentation started with a demonstration of the skill machine, “Lone Star Skill”. The core mechanics of the gaming cabinet were visually and audibly explained to the city commissioners.
Once the demonstration concluded, Mayor Lance DeFever asked the first question: Explain the financials of the skill machines.
“The local post, business owner, or convenience store owner does not put money out when they sign up with us. The distributor/operator will put the machine out, stock it with the money to pay players and none of that money is coming out of the pockets of the local business or VFW Post,” Glickler said. “Once a week, the operators will come out with a QR code inside to determine the net on the result on the machine. That net is distributed with PACE taking 30 percent of profits, the distributor/operator taking 35 percent, and the post taking 35 percent.”
DeFever went on to ask Pampa Chief of Police, Lance Richburg, to describe the past issues the law enforcement officers had dealt with when the VFW Post’s game room was in operation.
“A search warrant was executed in December 2018. We looked at a number of calls that we answered from that block of time and the previous two years,” Richburg said. “There were over 110 calls answered there with well over 80 percent of those calls being actually at that location.”
Richburg notes that while not every call was for extreme situations but there were a number of calls regarding domestic violence, narcotics, and other criminal activities. The volume of calls two years after the search warrant was executed was significantly less, with 14 calls totaling two traffic stops and 12 building alarm calls.
“We’ve talked about the practices that they did back then and these things that they did back then - not all of it was their fault - they were doing things to create a certain atmosphere that drew a certain clientele. We don’t believe that is our clientele,” Glickler said. “We would work with them [the post] and - to a certain extent, if you’re willing - work with you [the city commissioners] to do things the right way.”
Glickler reassures the city commission that Pace-O-Matic works with reputable businesses and investigates the places and people the company works with.
“We exist to ensure that things are going to be run the right way and assure everyone that it is going to stay that way,” Glickler said.
Jimmy Keough, Commissioner for Ward 3, asked Glickler who are the target clients for this game room.
“When it comes to the VFW, it’s just folks who are wanting to socialize, have a good time, and maybe win a few dollars,” Glickler said. “There are folks who are looking for big money paydays. Ours is a supplemental income for the business owners.”
DeFever asks for clarification on information that was presented earlier to the Gray County Commissioners, regarding the total number of skill machines that are intended to be in the game room.
“We don’t have more than ten machines in a VFW as of yet,” Glickler said. “The VFW is a little bit different and we have a special contract with them. They’re still subject to having to get authorization from Pace-O-Matic about what we are going to be and what we are going to do with that number.”
DeFever then addressed Tripplehorn about the apparent decision of operating in the Sportsman’s Club.
“We are not the owners of the property. The Sportsman building is a possibility if they would consider leasing it. They haven’t been approached yet,” Tripplehorn said.
Montoya then went up to the podium to clarify the number of machines that could be possible in the game room.
“Earlier this morning, we did say 40 machines but we didn’t realize how big these machines were,” Montoya said. “We could possibly fit 20 to 25 machines in the area.”
The special meeting concluded. The next regular meeting of the Pampa City Commission will be on May 8th at 4:00 pm.
