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OC Arcade Owners to Fight New MD State Rules

Don Rush

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - Arcade owners on the Ocean City boardwalk are fighting back against proposed state rules that would regulate and impose licensing fees on some of their games.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission - which also regulates the state's casinos  has proposed rules that would require a $50 licensing fee on any game where the potential prize has a wholesale value of more than $30.

The rules would not affect games like skee-ball where winners accumulate tickets that can be cashed in for prizes.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that arcade owners on the Ocean City Boardwalk are leading opposition to the rules, which they see as expensive and onerous.

In particular, they say popular claw-style arcade games that award prizes like iPad Minis would be affected.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.