Lawmakers were sending mixed messages on video gambling with two bills filed Wednesday. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, filed a measure that would legalize video poker, creating a centrally operated video terminal system that offers casino-style games. Proceeds would go to college scholarships and higher education building repair and construction. Another measure, filed by Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Madison, seeks to make clear that sweepstakes games are banned in North Carolina. For the past decade, lawmakers have tried to stamp out the games, first banning video poker and later the video sweepstakes games that popped up in their place. A trial court judge threw out a portion of the current ban on sweepstakes games last year. The case is being appealed. Gov. Beverly Perdue considered trying to revive video poker this year but decided against it.(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 3/02/11).
