喬治亞州參議院通過投幣遊藝機產業改革法案

喬治亞州立法者已通過改革該州投幣式遊藝機行業的立法，並將其送交州長布萊恩坎普批准。該法案旨在透過獎勵可在全州範圍內使用的非現金兌換禮品卡來遏制非法現金支付，而不是將兌換限制在機器所在的商店。修訂後的法案還將該州的收入份額從 10% 提高到 13%，預計每年為教育計畫帶來 4,000 萬美元的收入。然而，一些參議員表示反對，認為這些遊戲侵害了窮人並侵蝕了喬治亞州的價值觀，而另一些參議員則對與喬治亞州彩票相比收入份額較低表示擔憂。

Georgia Senate Approves Coin-Operated Amusement Machine Reform Bill

喬治亞州參議院批准投幣式遊藝機改革法案

Atlanta, Georgia - A significant legislative measure designed to reform the coin-operated amusement machine industry in Georgia has cleared the state Senate and is now on its way to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for signing.

喬治亞州亞特蘭大 - 旨在改革喬治亞州投幣式遊藝機行業的一項重大立法措施已獲得州參議院批准，目前正在送交州長布萊恩肯普 (Brian Kemp) 簽署。

House Bill 353, which garnered 29 votes in favor and 24 against in the 56-member Senate, represents the minimum threshold for legislative passage. The bill subsequently gained further support in the House, passing by a considerably wider margin of 148 to 18.

眾議院第 353 號法案在 56 名議員的參議院中獲得 29 票贊成、24 票反對，代表了立法通過的最低門檻。該法案隨後在眾議院獲得進一步支持，以 148 比 18 的較大優勢通過。

At the heart of the legislation lies a crucial change to the redemption system for winnings. Currently, winners can only exchange their winnings for merchandise offered at the establishment housing the coin-operated amusement machine. However, under the proposed reform, non-cash redemption gift cards would be introduced, allowing recipients to redeem them for any legal product at any location across Georgia.

該立法的核心是對獎金兌換制度的重大改變。目前，獲獎者只能用他們的獎金兌換投幣遊藝機所在場所提供的商品。然而，根據擬議的改革，將引入非現金兌換禮品卡，允許接收者在喬治亞州任何地點將其兌換為任何合法產品。

Proponents of the bill contend that this shift will mitigate the temptation for illegal cash payouts, which have long plagued the coin-operated amusement machine industry and fueled associated criminal activity.

該法案的支持者認為，這一轉變將減輕非法現金支付的誘惑，非法現金支付長期以來一直困擾著投幣式遊藝機行業並助長了相關的犯罪活動。

The Senate amended the bill during its Tuesday evening session to increase the state's revenue share from coin-operated amusement machines from 10% to 13%. This additional 3% is projected to generate an estimated $40 million annually, earmarked for Georgia's HOPE Scholarships and pre-kindergarten programs, according to Senator Clint Dixon (R-Buford), the bill's sponsor in the Senate.

參議院在周二晚上的會議上修改了該法案，將州投幣式遊藝機的收入份額從 10% 提高到 13%。該法案的參議院發起人參議員克林特·迪克森 (R-Buford) 表示，預計這額外的 3% 每年將產生約 4000 萬美元，專門用於喬治亞州的 HOPE 獎學金和學前班計畫。

Despite these proposed reforms, the bill has faced substantial opposition from senators who question both the morality of coin-operated amusement machine games and the appropriate percentage of revenue allocated to the state.

儘管提出了這些改革建議，該法案還是遭到了參議員的強烈反對，他們質疑投幣式遊藝機遊戲的道德性以及分配給國家的適當比例的收入。

Senator Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) expressed concern that the industry targets vulnerable individuals, luring them into false hopes of substantial winnings. "The machines are programmed to ensure that you cannot win," he emphasized.

參議員比爾·考塞特（雅典共和黨）表示擔心，該行業針對的是弱勢群體，誘使他們抱持巨額獎金的虛假希望。 「機器的編程是為了確保你無法獲勝，」他強調。

Echoing this sentiment, Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) condemned the perceived erosion of Georgia's values. "We are sacrificing our very soul," he lamented.

參議員蘭迪·羅伯遜（R-Cataula）呼應了這一觀點，譴責了喬治亞州價值觀受到的侵蝕。 「我們正在犧牲我們的靈魂，」他感嘆道。

Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) raised concerns about the bill's potential impact on the Georgia Lottery program. He noted that the amended 13% return would grant the state a significantly lower share of revenue compared to the lottery, which typically contributes roughly 25% of its proceeds to HOPE and pre-k programs.

參議員查克·赫夫斯特勒（羅馬共和黨）對該法案對喬治亞州彩票計劃的潛在影響表示擔憂。他指出，與彩票相比，修改後的 13% 回報率將使該州獲得的收入份額顯著降低，而彩票通常將其收益的約 25% 用於 HOPE 和學前教育計畫。

The bill's fate now lies in the hands of Governor Kemp, who has the authority to sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. The outcome of this legislative process has significant implications for the regulation of coin-operated amusement machines in Georgia and the allocation of revenue generated by the industry.

該法案的命運現在掌握在肯普州長手中，他有權將其簽署為法律、否決它或允許其在未經他簽名的情況下成為法律。這個立法過程的結果對喬治亞州投幣式遊藝機的監管以及該行業收入的分配有重大影響。