Debate Over Legality of Gambling Machines in Missouri Intensifies

A contentious debate on the legality of gambling machines in Missouri has led to their unrestrained proliferation across gas stations and convenience stores in the state. In-person gambling in Missouri is limited to 13 authorized casinos, whereas online gaming and sports betting are not legal. Players must be at least 21 years old to participate in gambling legally.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has repeatedly warned that unregulated machines lack the protections and restrictions found in licensed land-based casinos and therefore, put players and minors at risk.

As reported by I-Team, a local investigative news reports team at KSDK in St. Louis, Missouri, gambling at unregulated gaming machines became very easily accessible, as they have popped up practically everywhere across the state. While regulated casinos in Missouri require a minimum payout and comply with the minimum age requirement of 21, unregulated gaming machines lack these restrictions.

The AGA has called for a complete ban on these machines and resisted efforts to legalize them, arguing that this would reward offenders of the law. Furthermore, the investigative team of the online media outlet obtained photos of children playing at such machines. They were provided by an organization called NoMoSlots, which stands against their proliferation and has the support of Missouri’s legal gambling industry.

Chris Cylke, a spokesperson with the AGA commented on the machines, highlighting that people are endangering their safety due to the lack of transparency and limitations. He compared the unrestrained spread of the machines to a “national pandemic”.

There Is Lack of Responsibility for Unregulated Gaming Machines in Missouri

As revealed by the I-Team, Torch Electronics, a St. Louis-based company, is the owner of many gaming devices in the state. It markets its products as “no chance games” to comply with state laws, which define gambling as a game of “chance”, involving monetary bets. State Senator Nicholas Shroer, who pushes for regulation, commented on the situation, stating it does not get any better. The Senator explained that the state loses hundreds of millions of dollars annually as no taxes are collected from unregulated gambling machines across gas stations and convenience stores.

In another regulatory context, in Illinois, such gambling machines were legalized approximately 5 years ago, bringing the benefits of state taxation and player protections. However, as Marc Ellinger, an attorney at the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) explained, despite their legalization, there were thousands of unregulated devices across the state due to weak law enforcement.

While looking for the authority that is responsible for these machines, the I-Team reached out to Jan Zimmerman, chairman of the MGC. He confirmed the responsibility of the authority to regulate and oversee legal gambling venues operating in the state. He added that the existence of thousands of unregulated machines was “of great concern” to the Commission. Mr. Zimmerman concluded by stating: “We are bound by the existing laws within the state and prosecution is a determination made by the local prosecutors on a case-by-case basis.” Michael Winter, a spokesperson for the MGC, commented on the role of local prosecutors and shared his disappointment due to the lack of action.