In 1941, Ridgeway was included as part of a county-wide raid on slot machines. Sheriff Fred Daily and State Trooper Shelton Abney seized at least nine machines: two were found in Ridgeway, Eagleville, Blythedale, and Martinsville while one was found in Bethany. No arrests were made, even though permitting gambling devices in public places was a penal offense.
The devices were known as “gumball slot machines”. They were small, usually 8 x 6 x 6 inches, so they were easy to keep on a counter and also easy to hide. They accepted either pennies or nickels and were enticing to children. Winners would receive points or coupons toward the purchase of cigarettes or alcohol. Many of the seized machines would dispense a gum ball when played or had marbles designed to look like gum balls. The idea was that you couldn’t be gambling if you received a gum ball for your money, but this was not true. Players could receive a fine of $25 - $50 if caught and operators could receive up to two years in prison. Sheriff Daily considered these one- and five-cent machines to be more harmful to the morals of youth than the 25 cent “slots” which had been more common. (Ridgeway Journal, Jul 3, 1941 and “Gumball Slot Machine”, WisconsinHistory.Org, May 22, 2008.)
