Jackson County legislator desires tighter restrictions on unregulated gaming machines

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca is reintroducing an ordinance to tighten restrictions on unregulated playing machines present in comfort shops and fuel stations.

The transfer comes after complaints from enterprise house owners in northeast Kansas City who say the machines result in crime of their neighborhoods.

Abarca cited two companies that operated alongside Independence Avenue from January to October 2024: The Game Room and Up in Smoke. During that point, there have been dozens of safety calls, fires have been repeatedly set, and a number of overdoses occurred at these places, in keeping with Abarca.

Both companies have since shut down, and the world has been cleaned up, however Abarca mentioned gaming machines haven’t left Independence Avenue.

“Can be extremely challenging venues for neighborhoods that are just trying to keep up, and without the regulations from the city or county, there’s no real end to this,” Abarca mentioned. “There would be a fining structure, there would be a process for permitting these machines. Make sure that there’s some accountability, to reign them in and make them understand they are accountable to the taxpayers of Jackson County, and to their neighbors.”

Abarca says his objective is to not get rid of the machines fully, however reasonably to control them and guarantee security parameters are in place.

The ordinance outlining these rules might be launched on the November third legislature assembly.

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This push for regulation comes as playing grows extra mainstream lately, a lot of which may be attributed to sports activities betting, set to launch in Missouri subsequent month.

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