By Jacob Nakamura
(Tumon, Guam) Vice Speaker Telena Cruz Nelson this morning introduced a bill to make Liberty machines explicitly illegal.
If passed into law, Bill No. 226 will strike the entire section on poker-style machines and carnival gambling from the gaming rules and regulations. The bill also will outlaw pachinko, video horse or greyhound race machines, and other similar gambling devices.
The main prohibitions would be enacted 120 days after passage of the bill into law, if enacted.
This brings the tally of senators, who believe these Liberty machines are bad for Guam's society and families to five senators. Only three more are needed to support the repeal of the gamerooms law - enacted through a law by former Sen. Chris Duenas in the 32nd Guam Legislature in 2013 - to pass this measure and send it to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.
Ms. Nelson introduced her measure at 9:08 a.m. Monday. Click on the image below to read the entire bill.
Scroll from left to right to read Bill No. 226 in its entirety:
Gambling & prostitution are the oldest vices. We will NEVER be rid of them. Just as we will never be rid of illicit drugs as long as druggies exist. Take away one drug & they'll just switch to something else. Take away these so called gambling devices, & the gamblers will just switch to another form of gambling. Make all gambling illegal, then you'll only create a new opportunity for criminal enterprise to take over...supply & demand. It will just go underground...unregulated & untaxed. That's a welcome mat for the real crime syndicates, some really "Bad Hombres" to move in...like the Yakuza.
What about pool table gambling at bars/night clubs, is this form of gambling illegal too?
Praying this bill passes and soon! Thank you Telena for being proactive.
We are off to a great start. Let's see whom amongst her Colleagues will support and Co Sponsor her Bill.
Yayy I hope it passes