BY TOM SOMACH

Illegal video poker machines continue to draw the ire of law enforcement officials throughout the U.S.

The latest incident occurred in a state normally user-friendly to gambling, the Bluegrass State of Kentucky, where the Kentucky Derby is run as one of the world’s most famous wagering events.

Apparently, it’s a case of betting on horses, okay; betting on cards, not okay.

According to media reports, State police in Kentucky last Thursday seized 44 illegal video poker machines and $12,829 in cash from a total of seven gas stations and rest stops as part of a two-month investigation involving illegal payoffs from the machines.

In additon, state police charged five people with promoting gambling, for allegedly making the illegal money payouts on winning video machine hands, the media reports said.

Charged were William Miller, Heather Banks and Charles Barnard, all of Richmond, Ky., Carolyn Eland of Mt. Vernon, Ky., and Mark Hudack of Winchester, Ky.

According to the media reports, police said the businesses were illegally paying out winnings to people who play the video poker machines.

Kentucky has no legal casinos.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)