Illegal gambling machines destroyed

? A couple dozen illegal gambling machines have been destroyed after they were confiscated from a supplier who had placed them in businesses across Kansas.

Last week, a large earth-mover machine drove over a dozen of the machines in Topeka, while the giant bucket of a front-end loader fell heavily on a dozen others in Wichita.

A Johnson County supplier had placed them in businesses ranging from convenience stores to fraternal organizations. The businesses had turned in the machines to authorities after learning they weren’t legal.

“I think business owners have them out of ignorance, that’s why we concentrate on going after the suppliers,” said Stephen Martino, executive director of the commission.

He said the machines go by such names as “quarter slider,” “quarter pusher” or “Cherry Master.” They typically display a row of quarters on a ledge. The player attempts to place another quarter in position to cause a broom brushing across the top to knock down more quarters to be retrieved by the player.

Martino said the machines give users virtually no chance of winning.