News Item

Video Poker Supporter Has Gambling Trouble Past

By launchpoker, Jan 28, 2006

In Baltimore City a Council bill may not pass due to some recently release information about one of the bill’s biggest supporters. The bill centers around allowing the limit for video poker machines to climb passed its current level, and the driving force behind the proposed bill is one John Vontran, a video poker game operator. According to local TV news team WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team, legal troubles with gambling at their center haunt Vontran and could get in the way of the bill’s future.



Naturally the bill has its opponents, such as the Abell Foundation that released a report describing the video poker industry in an unflattering light.



Vontran faced gambling violations charges last August undercover police officers in Baltimore County said they witnessed a man get paid in cash after playing one of Vontran's machines. The case was dropped after Vontran agreed to forfeit five of his machines.