Vending game industry still shutdown in Ohio

Dayton, Ohio — While Ohio continues it’s cautious reopening plan. Restaurants and bars are able to welcome customers again, but inside these establishments, owners of the vending game industry say the state is still playing games with their livelihood.

“”It is important, early on, that we did our part," Pioneer Vending owner Luke Adams said. "We stayed at home, shut our businesses down, but now that we’re seeing things open up and we’re seeing certain machines being allowed to be on and ours not…it’s time for us to be allowed to open up as well.”

What Adams is referring to is state owned Lottery games. The touch-type machines are open for business in bars and restaurants while games that sit right next to them have been shutdown.

“Our liveihoods, as well as our bar and restaurant partners and bowling centers, and family entertainment centers, and the list goes on throughout the state of Ohio. We all rely on this revenue from these games.”

That’s why vending game owners across the state took their complaint to the courtroom….they’re still waiting for a judge in Northeast Ohio to make a decision.

“We want to be part of the solution. We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep people safe.”

The state’s big concern is people congregating to play these games…but whether it’s a dart board, or a golf game, or a juke box…these days most of them can be operated virtually.

“You don’t have to have multiple people at a dart board to play anymore. You can virtually play by yourself against people in other bars.”

So here in Ohio these machines that are supposed to be collecting cash, are not just collecting dust.

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