Burbank police bust market for alleged slot machines

After a two-week investigation, Burbank police say they confiscated two active slot machines from Neighborhood Market on North Glenoaks Boulevard in Burbank.

An anonymous caller informed police about one of the machines about two weeks ago, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

Upon visiting the store, officers noticed the machine was active and accepted bills. A store employee allegedly admitted to paying out one or two winners who played a game, though it’s unclear how much money the winners took home, Ryburn said.

Police returned on Tuesday with a search warrant, and recovered a “coin pusher” machine -- also believed to function as a slot machine.

Operable slot machines are illegal in California, unless on Indian reservations.

While charges have not yet been filed, the misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum of 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, said Senior Assistant City Atty. Denny Wei.

Wei said he’s never prosecuted someone for the offense in his nearly seven years in Burbank.

“It’s certainly not something that’s very common,” he said.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek