Antique gambling bill headed to governor

A bill that would amend state gambling law and help out local antique-store owners Ron and Eila Turner passed the Montana Senate on April 19 and is headed to the governor.

Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, sponsored Senate Bill 540 after three state gambling control agents showed up at the Cowboy Cabin on Wisconsin Avenue on Jan. 31 and confiscated $77,000 worth of antique gambling equipment.

The agents told the Turners that possessing the antique punch boards, roulette wheels, "chuck-o-luck" dice cage, blackjack table, craps table and craps board violated state law.

The surprise raid and seizure of the antique gambling devices — some dating back to the 19th century — drew both local, state and national attention.

Jackson said he was concerned when he read about the seizure in the newspapers, and he discussed the matter with Sen. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman.

Gene Huntington, the administrator of the state's Gambling Control Division, spoke to the Senate committee in support of the amendment. Huntington proposed two changes to SB540, which the committee accepted.

"We didn't want any unintended consequences getting into the statutes," Jackson said.

As amended by the House and Senate, with advice from the state Gambling Control Division, the bill states that antique gambling devices must be more than 25 years old to qualify.

A dealer may display and sell up to three antique gambling devices in a single year without having to purchase a license.

The bill is retroactive to Dec. 31, which means the seized equipment might be returned to the Turners' store. Ron Turner said some of the items are on consignment and belong to people in California.

Shipping them back to California could be problematic because of the 1951 Johnson Act, which regulates the interstate transportation of gambling devices.

Jackson said he doesn't support gambling, noting that his father was "addicted to gambling," but he also supports protecting private property rights.

"These items are not intended for gambling — they're collector items," he said.