The Town of Columbus has adopting a new gaming license ordinance with a $3,000 fee.

Council approved the new license for electronic gaming machines recently, but interim finance officer Kathy Gregory said last week that many machines may be taken out because of the fee.

The town has about four businesses that have gaming machines. The new licensing ordinance includes a $3,000 flat fee plus $2,000 per electronic gaming machine/terminal.

The ordinance says the license will be required for any business enterprise, whether as a primary or an accessory use, where persons utilize electronic machines, including but not limited to computers and gaming terminals, to conduct games of chance, including sweepstakes, and where further game credits, cash, merchandise or other items of value are redeemed or otherwise distributed, whether or not the value of such distribution is determined by electronic games played or by predetermined odds. This does not include any lottery approved by the State of North Carolina.