MUNCIE - Some officials in charge of enforcing the state's gambling laws as they pertain to businesses with liquor licenses seemed surprised when contacted last week about Pizza Ante, a small restaurant with 10 video gambling machines.
Because the restaurant does not have a liquor license, it is unregulated by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Because it does not have a charity gaming license, it is not overseen by the Indiana Department of Revenue.
"I really haven't heard of that," said Alex Huskey, superintendent of the Indiana Excise Police, whose 63 officers enforce the state's liquor laws. "This is the first I've heard of this in Indiana."
Jennifer Drewry, prosecutor for the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, agreed.
"I haven't heard of any other operations like this in Indiana at all," she said. "It's entirely new to me."
Huskey said that since Pizza Ante does not have a liquor license, it falls outside his agency's jurisdiction.
"There's nothing that gives us permission to do that," Huskey said.
Drewry said state authorities would look into the matter, however.
"If we haven't seen this before, what can we do about it? What are we going to do about it?" she asked.
Enforcement would likely fall to local police and the prosecutor's office, Huskey said.
Delaware County Prosecutor Richard Reed - who said he had been informed that Neal was the owner of Pizza Ante - said he believed local authorities would investigate.
"I think I might look into that," Reed said. "It might be a place where kids hang out. I don't know any of the facts about it."
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Because the restaurant does not have a liquor license, it is unregulated by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Because it does not have a charity gaming license, it is not overseen by the Indiana Department of Revenue.
"I really haven't heard of that," said Alex Huskey, superintendent of the Indiana Excise Police, whose 63 officers enforce the state's liquor laws. "This is the first I've heard of this in Indiana."
Jennifer Drewry, prosecutor for the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, agreed.
"I haven't heard of any other operations like this in Indiana at all," she said. "It's entirely new to me."
Huskey said that since Pizza Ante does not have a liquor license, it falls outside his agency's jurisdiction.
"There's nothing that gives us permission to do that," Huskey said.
Drewry said state authorities would look into the matter, however.
"If we haven't seen this before, what can we do about it? What are we going to do about it?" she asked.
Enforcement would likely fall to local police and the prosecutor's office, Huskey said.
Delaware County Prosecutor Richard Reed - who said he had been informed that Neal was the owner of Pizza Ante - said he believed local authorities would investigate.
"I think I might look into that," Reed said. "It might be a place where kids hang out. I don't know any of the facts about it."
thestarpress.com