Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway
JEFFERSON CITY — Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has escalated her office’s efforts to crack down on what it calls unlawful gambling operations by filing civil lawsuits against five retail establishments in Dunklin County for hosting illegal gaming machines and exposing communities to unregulated gambling activities.
The legal action, announced Feb. 10 by Hanaway’s office, asserts that the businesses knowingly provided access to unlicensed and unregulated gambling games in violation of Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act and state nuisance gambling laws.
In her announcement, Hanaway said the actions against these retailers are part of a broader initiative to “reclaim our communities from the harms of illegal gaming halls.”
Hanaway noted that retail locations facilitating illegal gambling, including what are commonly known as video lottery terminals and so-called fishing table games, are not only breaking state law but also endangering the welfare of Missourians.
“When retail shops turn a blind eye or facilitate a space for illegal gambling, they are not only ignoring the law, they are putting our communities at risk,” Hanaway said. “Lawlessness has always been a magnet for organized crime. My Office will hold any business accountable for profiting off of unlawful activity, and we will do everything in our power to shut illegal gaming and gambling machines down.”
The lawsuits target five specific businesses: Discount Spirits and Tobacco, Kennett Liquor and Tobacco and Laura’s Mini Mart in Kennett; and Dixie Package and Swindle’s Quick Shop in Malden.
According to the court filings, these establishments have permitted customers to use unregulated gambling machines on their premises, where users insert cash to play and receive a ticket to be redeemed for cash at the store.
Such conduct, the attorney general’s office contends, constitutes not just a breach of regulatory law but also a public nuisance that exploits patrons and harms local communities.
Hanaway’s legal action seeks civil penalties against the defendants and a permanent injunction barring them from offering access to these unlawful gambling devices.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control conducted investigations into the activities at these stores, which in turn supported the filing of criminal charges by the Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, in a statement included in the press release, stressed the serious nature of the offenses under state law.
“Promoting gambling is a felony offense that harms our community by taking Missourians’ hard-earned money,” Jain said. “I am proud to work with the Attorney General’s Office to hold those who operate illegal slot machines accountable. My office is filing felony charges against these gambling machine operators and will continue collaborating with our leaders to stop these illegal actions.”
While Missouri permits certain forms of gambling, such as the state lottery and casino gaming under regulated conditions, state law clearly prohibits unlicensed gambling machines from operating outside these frameworks.
The lawsuits underscore the attorney general’s interpretation that these devices, which have proliferated in convenience stores, tobacco shops and other retail outlets in recent years, fall outside any legal exemption and are therefore unlawful.
The machines at issue, identified as Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) and fishing table games, typically involve the insertion of cash by a player who engages in electronic gaming and then redeems tickets for cash winnings.
Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act prohibits businesses from advancing games of chance on their premises without proper licensing and regulation, a key point in the state’s legal argument.
By housing and enabling the use of these machines, the attorney general’s office alleges, the defendants have engaged in civil and criminal wrongdoing.
Hanaway indicated her office will continue efforts to address illegal gambling and related activities throughout Missouri by partnering with local, state and federal authorities where appropriate.
The lawsuits follow years of debate and enforcement challenges over similar gaming devices, which have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and courts.
Most recently, a federal judge ruled that certain slot machines operating in gas stations and other venues across Missouri are illegal gambling devices, a decision that could bolster enforcement actions and clarify legal standards for these machines statewide.
