Legal Question in Business Law in Georgia

Cashing Checks for Personal Gain

Georgia Convenience store operates video poker machines and allows customers to write personal checks for cash to play the machines. Owner advises customer Not to date the check and check would be ''held'' until payday. The more I played, the more I lost, the more checks I wrote. Took me awhile to figure out why he was so agreeable to hold my checks, owner was fully aware cash received from writing the checks were going right back into his video machines and this benefited him! The more checks I wrote, the more I lost, the more money owner made off of me. I suspect he receives a percentage of all monies poured into the machines. I did not find out until a later date these machines were illegal in Ga. Long story short, I became unemployed, owner agreed I could pay what I could. Now owner is demanding 6 to 8 hundred dollars a month, much more than I can pay on my fixed income. The business still operates video machines and pays cash to players anywhere from $5.00 to very large jackpots. I actually saw a woman win $12,000.00 and was paid in cash on the spot. Needless to say I learned a very valuable lesson regarding gambling. Question: do I have to pay the amount the owner is demanding - do I have any options?


Asked on 7/19/05, 6:35 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Charles W. Field Charles W. Field, Attorney at Law

Re: Cashing Checks for Personal Gain

It's been a while since I have looked at this area of the law, but I don't think contracts in furtherance of an illegal activity (gambling) are enforceable. Consult with a local attorney.

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Answered on 7/19/05, 3:32 pm
Kendall Carter The Law Offices of Kendall W. Carter, LLC

Re: Cashing Checks for Personal Gain

The best advice I can give you on the matter is to contact the local police or the District Attorney regarding whether this individual is operating an illegal video gambling house. Failing that, you should be diligent in contacting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. their website is www.ganet.org/gbi. As far as your debt to the owner, I cannot say for certain whether it may be valid or not without further information. Please feel free to contact me using the information below.

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Answered on 7/19/05, 10:02 am


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