Attorney General Hanaway Takes Intention At Unlawful Gaming Machines

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In an ongoing and steady effort to reclaim our communities from the harms of unlawful gaming halls, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway introduced that her Office has filed go well with in opposition to 5 retail retailers for working unlawful playing machines and offering public entry to unlicensed and unregulated video games in direct violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

“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,” stated Attorney General Hanaway. “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.”

Missouri’s legal guidelines are clear: It is prohibited to offer entry to unregulated machines and video games for playing functions. The Attorney General’s Office, working collaboratively with native officers who’re pursuing legal prices, is submitting 5 lawsuits in opposition to retail retailers in Dunklin County. These companies have knowingly superior unlawful playing on their premises in violation of Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act and Missouri’s nuisance playing legal guidelines.

These fits are being filed in opposition to:

1. Discount Spirits and Tobacco in Kennett;
2. Dixie Package in Malden;
3. Kennett Liquor and Tobacco in Kennett;
4. Laura’s Mini Mart in Kennett; and
5. Swindle’s Quick Shop in Malden.

The two varieties of unlawful playing machines being unlawfully housed in these retail retailers are Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) and fishing desk video games. Users sometimes insert money to play. When the consumer desires to money out, they obtain a ticket which is cashed by the retail retailers.

These retail shops are using their premises to advance illegal playing, constituting them as a public nuisance. The Attorney General’s Office is asking the Court for civil penalties and for a everlasting injunction prohibiting these institutions from offering playing companies which can be detrimental to our communities.

In addition to the State’s request for injunctive reduction, the Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney has filed legal prices, following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.

“Promoting gambling is a felony offense that harms our community by taking Missourians’ hard-earned money. I am proud to work with the Attorney General’s Office to hold those who operate illegal slot machines accountable,” stated Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain. “My office is filing felony charges against these gambling machine operators and will continue collaborating with our leaders to stop these illegal actions.”

Attorney General Hanaway will proceed to work with native, state, and federal officers to root out problematic and unlawful actions throughout your complete State of Missouri.

The full petition to Discount Spirits and Tobacco might be learn here.
The full petition to Dixie Package might be learn here.
The full petition to Kennett Liquor and Tobacco might be learn here.
The full petition to Laura’s Mini Mart might be learn here.
The full petition to Swindle’s Quick Shop might be learn here.