Jack Pot moved from Colonial Beach, Virginia to Maryland, 1959

courtesy of Mary DeAtley

What is “Jack Pot”

• "Jack Pot" (sometimes “Jackpot”) was an entertainment / gambling pier business operated by Colonial Piers, Inc. located off Colonial Beach, Virginia, but in Maryland waters.

• The business had licenses for various amusements, cigarette sales, music boxes, and slot machines.

Legal & Regulatory Context

• Maryland law allowed certain gambling / amusement devices on piers extending into its waters — hence many of the piers from Colonial Beach exploited that jurisdictional situation.

• But this arrangement ran into legal change: in 1959, Maryland changed its laws (under pressure from Virginia legislators) to outlaw slot machines on piers off Virginia’s shore.

“Move” in 1959

• The specific mention of “Jack Pot moved from Colonial Beach, Virginia to Maryland, 1959” seems to arise from the observation that with the 1959 law change, the operation of Jack Pot (or the pier) had to respond. The wording from the Colonial Beach Historical Society & Museum says, “Jack Pot moved from Colonial Beach, Virginia to Maryland, 1959.” 

  
  

• What “move” means in this case likely involves shifting more of the pier’s operations (or jurisdiction) to Maryland waters, or relocating parts of the structure or business so that it was fully under Maryland jurisdiction, to continue legally operating slot machines or amusements. The act wasn’t likely a physical transportation of the pier, as the piers already often stretched over into Maryland waters. More likely, portions were adjusted to comply with new boundaries and laws.

Aftermath

• The new law in Maryland effectively shut down or forced changes to many such piers’ operations of slot machines.

• Jack Pot’s licensing history shows continued renewals of certain licenses (e.g. liquor, trader, cigarette) beyond 1959, though the slot operations were impacted by the law.