A Missouri, US bar owner has boldly launched a legal attack on Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, accusing her of exceeding her authority in a statewide effort to crack down on unregulated slot-style gambling machines.
No Official Authority to Ban the Machines
The lawsuit, filed last week in Cole County Circuit Court, was brought by Tuners Bar & Grill and its owner, James Schappe.
The case sets up a potentially significant legal battle over the future of video lottery terminals that have become increasingly common in bars, restaurants, truck stops, and convenience stores across Missouri.
At the heart of the dispute is whether Hanaway can rely on a federal court ruling involving a separate gaming operator to pressure businesses into removing the machines.
According to the lawsuit, Schappe argues that Missouri law does not currently prohibit, license, or regulate video lottery games.
Because lawmakers have not taken clear legislative action on the issue, the filing claims the attorney general lacks the authority to effectively ban the devices through enforcement actions.
The lawsuit contends that any decision to legalize, regulate, or prohibit the machines rests with the Missouri General Assembly rather than the attorney general’s office.
Hanaway has made the removal of illegal gambling devices a priority since taking office, arguing that many of the machines operating around the state violate Missouri gambling laws.
Her office has sought to use existing legal tools and court rulings to challenge operators and businesses that continue offering the games.
The Gray Area
The machines have long been in the legal gray area in Missouri, with supporters saying that some of the devices are games of skill and not games of chance, thus sending them outside traditional gambling restrictions, and critics arguing that the terminals work similarly to slot machines and should be regulated or removed.
The debate has intensified in recent years amid the constantly growing number of machines spread across the state. Legislators have struggled to address the issue, but their efforts have been repeatedly stalled, leaving regulators, law enforcement agencies, and business owners divided over how the devices should be treated under Missouri law.
For businesses such as Tuners Bar & Grill, the machines can provide an important source of revenue. Operators argue that removing them without clear legislative direction could harm small businesses that have relied on the additional income.
The lawsuit now places the question before a state court, which will be asked to determine whether the attorney general’s actions are supported by existing law or whether the matter should be left to lawmakers.