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Group asks W.Va. lottery officials to block upgrade
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An organization that represents video lottery distributors is asking the state Lottery Commission to block a costly machine upgrade planned by the manufacturer.
The West Virginia Amusement & Limited Video Lottery Association asked the commission in a letter to insist that video slot machine manufacturer IGT continue using the existing machines that communicate with the Lottery’s central computer until 2021.
Las Vegas-based IGT agreed to postpone requiring new machines from 2015 to 2017. The association argues upgrading the more than 6,800 machines in clubs and bars across the state could cost retailers up to $100 million.
Lottery Director John Musgrave tells The Charleston Gazette the manufacturers are allowed under the law to change the machines as long as they give two years’ notice.
