I read with amused interest the story on the Headlines section of the TDCAA site, titled: Racetracks May Add Noncash Video Stations. The article touches on a subject that we have addressed over and over here in Lubbock: whether or not TPC 47.01(4)(B) allows "accumulation" of prizes. Our position is that allowing the prize amounts to accumulate violates the exclusive award provision, by allowing a player to win a prize that exceeds the value limit. While the statute allows a player to receive a "representation of value" in lieu of the actual prize, the "representation of value" must be redeemable for "non cash merchandise prizes, toys, or novelties" whose value cannot exceed the limit set forth in the statute. In other words, if a player can obtain a prize that exceeds the value cap, the law has been violated. On a penny 8 Liner, a player who bets the minimum 8 cent bet, may receive a prize whose wholseale value does not exceed 10 times the 8 cent bet...or 80 cents. If he wins multiple prizes, including "representations of value" exchangeable for a prize, he may receive multiple 80 cent prizes, but he cannot aggregate (or accumulate) those prizes. If he wins 10 times, he cannot get an $8 prize. He gets ten 80 cent prizes.

Joe's Crab Shack at the Quarry in San Antonio has one of the glass boxes where you pay money to drop a hook and try to grab a prize. Costs $2 a go and the prizes are live lobsters, which they cook at no additional charge.