The state Supreme Court upheld a state law last month outlawing sweepstakes machines as gambling operations following a couple years of appeals.

Local and state officials say gaming operators are attempting to use different software and gaming options to reopen some stores across the state that will comply with the state law.

Beddingfield said he is working with the district attorney’s office and if more gaming machines come to Columbus they will have to determine if they are illegal or not, depending on the machine.

Columbus will lose some funding due to the ban on machines. The town enforced an ordinance on the machines that included fees of $3,000 per location and $2,500 per machine. If one location had two machines, the store would have to pay the town $8,000, for example.

Although Tryon has not had any gaming machines recently, town council enacted a privilege license fee on any future machines during its December meeting. Tryon’s fees are $3,000 per store and $2,000 per each machine.