State Alcohol Law Enforcement agents would take over regulation of video poker machines under a bill that cleared a state House Committee Wednesday.

The Finance Committee voted 19-11 to change the current system of regulating video poker.

North Carolina has about 12,000 video poker machines in use now. Operators are allowed to offer up to $10 in prizes for winners.

But sheriffs across the state said the machines can be converted easily to make illegal cash payouts. Sheriffs have been pushing to ban the machines.

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The State Senate supports a ban on video poker machines. In April 2003, the Senate voted 48-1 to ban the machines. That bill sat in a House committee for 14 months.

Then some House leaders endorsed an alternative. The new bill would require the machine's owner to pay a $125 quarterly fee. That money would head to the state division of Alcohol Law Enforcement. A.L.E. agents would take over regulation of video poker machines.

The issue now heads to the full State House. If the House goes along with the plan, the bill would head back to the Senate.

Source: Mitch Kokai, News 14 Carolina