Deskin’s gum dispenser: 1913 ruling seen as key to Missouri illegal gambling cases
By Rudi Keller
Missouri Independent
Sometime around 1911, George Deskin opened a lunchroom in Moberly about a block from the railroad yards that made the north Missouri community a prosperous place.
Along with meals, Deskin’s restaurant offered a game in the form of a gum dispenser. For a nickel, patrons could buy gum and potentially win 10 cents to $1 in tokens. The game alerted players whether the next nickel would only buy gum or also win two to 20 tokens worth 5 cents each.
The machine was set so that players who used a real coin received gum and any tokens indicated. Customers who played with tokens didn’t get any gum.
Rudi Keller
Missourri Independent
Sometime around 1911, George Deskin opened a lunchroom in Moberly about a block from the railroad yards that made the north Missouri community a prosperous place.
Along with meals, Deskin’s restaurant offered a game in the form of a gum dispenser. For a nickel, patrons could buy gum and potentially win 10 cents to $1 in tokens. The game alerted players whether the next nickel would only buy gum or also win two to 20 tokens worth 5 cents each.
The machine was set so that players who used a real coin received gum and any tokens indicated. Customers who played with tokens didn’t get any gum.
Sometime around 1911, George Deskin opened a lunchroom in Moberly about a block from the railroad yards that made the north Missouri community a prosperous place.