Feb. 7, 2003 – Newly legal video lottery terminals are up and running on St. Thomas, but the V.I. government will go to court next week and ask a judge to rule on whether they should be unplugged, Attorney General Iver Stridiron says.
At issue is whether the contract held by Southland Gaming, the company installing the machines, is valid. The contract with the government has been questioned in light of reports that Southland has failed to pay taxes and make tax and financial reports.
Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik said on Wednesday that the company has not been licensed to do business in the territory through his department.
Stridiron said on Friday that he expects to file a request with Territorial Court for declaratory judgment on the legality of the contract by next Wednesday. "At the same time we'll be filing for a restraining order and injunctive relief," he said.
The court will be asked to halt Southland Gaming temporarily from distributing any more VLT's in the territory, and the government will eventually ask for a permanent injunction.
Stridiron said if the company does not have a V.I. business license, police would have authority to confiscate the terminals. But he said that type of action ordinarily is not taken unless operations pose a threat of serious harm to the public.
"A better tactic or course of action would be to allow the court to decide and settle the matter once and for all," he said.
Video gambling on St. Thomas and St. John was legalized on Dec. 23, when the 24th Legislature overrode an earlier veto of enabling legislation by the governor. The recent introduction of the gaming terminals has generated widespread opposition, particularly on St. Croix, the only island in the territory where casino gambling is legal.
VLT opponents staged demonstrations on St. Croix and St. Thomas on Jan. 31, and leaders of various community organizations, including the territory's two Chambers of Commerce, have taken a public stand against them.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Jan. 22 sent a bill to the Legislature to repeal the law legalizing video gambling, but no action has been taken on it as yet. Senate President David Jones is on record as supporting video gambling operations. (See "Chamber tells Jones 32 V.I. groups oppose VLT's".)
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