The game is over for those who frequent video sweepstakes establishments in Haywood County, for now at least.

Law enforcement officers across the county made their rounds Thursday to enforce a recent statewide ban on video sweepstakes machines.

Enforcement of the law is based on the discretion of agencies across the state, but each agency in Haywood County has a unified enforcement plan.

Yesterday, detectives gave each store owner final notice of the law. But from now on, those operating the machines will be charged criminally.

Tami Nicholson, who manages two sweepstakes establishments in Haywood County and one in Cherokee, says the court ruling against the machines is hurting the entire state, starting with the 15,000 employees who lost their jobs yesterday.

“This hurts Haywood County. It ...