Poker Proponent Not Even a Player

Representing the ordinary men of America, Sam Martin of Newberry claims that having a video poker machine is no different than the state running the lottery. With 15 percent of the registered voters’ signatures, Martin marched up to the County election officials with demands of legalizing video poker machines. The results of his legal attacks ended with embarrassing results, escorted out of the building.

Martin, who claims to have never even played a video poker machine, believes that by legalizing cash generated video poker machines, the county will be able to rid of its property taxes.

Due to gambling being banned by the state several years ago, County officials said that they couldn’t be a part of actions that are simply illegal. Martin was accompanied out of the building because of his voluntary act of representing the people’s voice.

"If it's ok for churches to have gambling, why is it not OK to have them at convenience stores and all," Martin said.

Close to half the people in the county support Martin’s views. "Now this is a new approach, it's novel," said former State Attorney General Charlie Condon. Condone is also known for his rejected attempts to return poker machines into the community’s local stores.

Although the County claims to allow any petition from voters, gambling seems to have an obvious response of rejection.