The state Lottery Commission has fined two video lottery machine technicians $1,000 each for repairing 10 machines the wrong way.
Commission members had an extended discussion at their Thursday meeting in Charleston after hearing from the technicians who work for Clarksburg-based Shaffer Amusement.
Both Kenny Howell and Lawson Mangum told the commission they didn’t know it was wrong to bypass a switch on the cash door in order to get a machine back on line more quickly.
“I didn’t know it was wrong,” Howell said, a 13-year technician who has a state license to fix the machines. “I guess you don’t know you’re doing wrong until you’re told.”
Bypassing the switch can create a security concern for video lottery machines although there are other switches in the machine that would send electronic messages to Charleston that they are being tampered with.
The commission ultimately decided on the fines for Howell and Mangum along with six months probation. Another violation will result in revocation of their licenses. The commission also fined Shaffer Amusement $10,000. The Lottery will also send letters to all video lottery technicians and operators pointing out how serious it is to bypass a key step in the repairing of the machines.
Lottery Commission Chair Ken Greear pushed for stiff fines. He says he understands technicians are under a lot of pressure to get the machines running again but that’s no excuse.
“We can’t allow the pressure on one side to dictate the actions on the other,” Greear said.
The chairman added the Lottery has to stay above reproach.
“There’s no leeway as far as I’m concerned. It has to be at the highest level at every level,” Greear said. He also maintained he doesn’t believe the mode of operation used by the Shaffer Amusement technicians is widespread.
Shaffer Amusement previously said it would fully cooperate with the Lottery in its investigation. Company representatives brought the technicians to the meeting Thursday. The technicians said they wanted the commission to make a decision so they could move on.