Illegal Missouri Slot Machines 

Missouri is having problems with the spread of illegal slot machines throughout the state. Ernie Raub is an Enforcement Manager with the Missouri Gaming Commission and he said that the amount of revenue that the illegal slot machines are bringing in to their owners is worth the risk of getting caught to them. 

He said that slot machines are appearing in truck stops, bars, restaurants, etc., and that they are costing the state of Missouri millions of dollars in revenue every year. But the states hands are tied. The Missouri Gaming Commission has no jurisdiction at bars or any other commercial business. Without the ability to enforce the laws, they really can’t do much about illegal slot machines. Lawmakers say that the slot machines are unfairly untaxed because they are unregulated.  

Raub said that he believes that there are probably somewhere around 15,000 illegal slot machines currently operating in Missouri. He said it could be as low as 5,000 – but it could be as high as 20,000. That leaves millions of dollars in slot machine revenue from the state that could be going towards something good, instead of in the slot machine owners’ pockets. Some government officials such as Senator Loudon want to see local law enforcements put their foot down and eliminate local gambling irregularities when they see them, and some of them are doing just that. But others are not complying at all, turning a blind eye to the problem.

slot machine, slot machine, slot machine, slot machine

Back to October Archive or Slot Machines