Amid spread of slot machines in Missouri, citizens raise concerns to gambling regulators
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JEFFERSON CITY — Nearly 300 people have asked Missouri gambling regulators to investigate potentially illegal slot machines that have flooded the state.
In a report to the Missouri Lottery Commission, the general counsel of the Missouri Gaming Commission said a hotline established by the agency has received 280 citizen reports about the machines, which may be siphoning money away from the state’s regulated gambling industry, including the state lottery and the 13 licensed casinos.
“A lot of them are from citizens concerned about illegal gaming,” Ed Grewach told lottery officials.
The games, set up in gas stations and bars, operate similarly to casino slot machines in that a player deposits money with the chance of winning or losing money by placing a bet.
Because the games are unregulated, there are no consumer protections to prevent low payouts, no money directed to public education and no resources available for addicted gamblers.
In some cases, the gaming commission launched its own investigation of the allegedly illegal machines, while other complaints were referred to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“The ones we examined were illegal gambling machines,” Grewach said.
