Chicken tick-tack-toe draws criticism

Associated Press

May 20, 2002

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - An animal-rights group is not happy about people flocking to Aztar Corp. casinos to play tick-tack-toe against a chicken.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote a letter this week to Aztar President Robert M. Haddock alleging that the "Chicken Challenge" game treats the animals cruelly.

The games feature a hen playing against gamblers in a game of tick-tack-toe. The hen is inside a machine and places her "O" on the tick-tack-toe board by pecking on a screen.

The game made its debut June 1 at Casino Aztar in Evansville and is also being played at Aztar casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., and Las Vegas.

PETA's Amy Rhodes told the Evansville Courier & Press for a story Thursday that the group had received "many calls of concern" about the game.

"Some callers are concerned about the poor quality of life for the chickens kept in the tiny boxes, others are irritated about the message of disrespect conveyed by the game, and still others are outraged by both," Rhodes said.

Casino Aztar spokeswoman Pam Martin said the Ohio River casino has received no local complaints about the game.

The casino says it has 15 hens for use in the game and that a new chicken is placed in the game booth every hour.

Martin said all the chickens were kept in a temperature-controlled, smoke-free environment where they are regularly cared for and fed.

"I think it's a considerate environment for any animal," Martin said. "It's a much better life than some chickens are subjected to."

Casino Aztar and its sister properties obtained hens for the "Chicken Challenge" from a Springdale, Ark., farm operated by Bunky Boger. Boger's farm has trained animals for circus acts and other entertainment purposes.

PETA's letter to Haddock alleges that Boger's farm has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violations of federal animal care standards.

Birds, however, are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act, according to the PETA letter.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday for Boger by the Associated Press.

Before the "Chicken Challenge" began, the hens and their coop were inspected by Vicki Kavanaugh, director of Evansville Animal Care and Control.

"I did not see anything in any way cruel," Kavanaugh said.

The agency had received no complaints about the game, she said.

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-- (Petulant Petula @ PETA.pissed), June 22, 2002

Answers

This is more heinous than "cow pie bingo".

-- (Petulant Petula @ peaceable.kingdom), June 22, 2002.

How is this more cruel than chopping their heads off and eating them?

-- (just@wonder.ing), June 24, 2002.