As illegal gambling machines spread across the Show Me State, Missourians are rightfully decrying the proliferation of these predatory devices into their communities.
However, Attorney General Andrew Bailey is doing the exact opposite. Bailey is removing his office from litigation on the issue as manufacturers of these so-called “skill games” challenge the state’s power to remove the machines from operation.
These unregulated and ubiquitous machines masquerade as the slot machines found in licensed, regulated casinos — but that’s all they have in common.
Operating outside the law, these machines offer no consumer protections or guaranteed payouts, as customers have no legal recourse if an unregulated operator refuses to pay. In fact, American Gaming Association research shows unregulated gambling machines exploit customers by offering worse odds. For every dollar bet by consumers, regulated machines keep seven cents on average, while unregulated machines keep nearly 25 cents.
