LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Next Door Pub is allowing minors to gamble on machines.  The Pub has machines that print tickets for gambling wins and then the minors take the tickets to the payout machines to receive cash while the staff of the Pub allows this. Anonymous- (Name of local resident withheld by the Geneva Shore Report for safety reasons).

Editor’s Note: Video gaming devices are NOT legal anywhere in the State of Wisconsin except in authorized Tribal gaming facilities. Bars and taverns may offer five or fewer devices for amusement only, meaning they must be free to play or not provide anything of value as a prize. Any other video gaming devices are illegal. Playing these video gaming devices is itself an illegal act, so a regulatory agency or local law enforcement cannot compel the owner of such devices to pay what would be illegal winnings under the law, and they can successfully arrest and charge both players and the bar or restaurant owners. There is no crime of underage gambling in Wisconsin, except where gambling is allowed (and this is in casinos, and only casinos).

I recently had to appear in court at the Walworth County Courthouse.  I was fortunate that my judge was like the others serving on that court, in that he was fair, succinct, unemotional, and yet compassionate. 

That was Judge Navis.  I don’t remember his first name. 

I’d also appeared months before in front of Judge Drettwan, who was truly understanding as my peculiar female-related predicament. 

I won’t’ forget how interesting and caring the judges and even prosecutors on my case were and likely remain.

I hope you will publish this because I don’t think most people in trouble bother to think about what they have been through, many times at our own fault, and then reach back to reflect on how so many humans working in that tough system are tough all right but truly caring and honest. –

Elizabeth, resident of Elkhorn

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