And if there’s no gambling device, a store can’t be considered an illegal commercial gambling operation. In essence, the court ruled just because a coin-operated amusement machine was used for gambling purposes doesn’t automatically make it a gambling device. “That ruling effectively gutted the entire GBI investigation and case against Ridley and Layton,” Browning said. In March, Haralson County District Attorney Jack Browning announced he was dismissing the Ridley and Layton cases because the Georgia Court of Appeals had overturned another case with “identical facts, charges, and evidence.” It all stems from a recent appellate court ruling that authorities say makes it much harder to prosecute owners for felony commercial gambling, even if there’s clear evidence the store is secretly paying winners in cash.
“And they’re still concerned about them,” he stressed.Ĭoncerned, but likely not able to do much about them now. “Even before this case the GBI was looking at all these machines coming in,” said Pete Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, a group that represents district attorneys.
