Lawmakers Push To Regulate Video Lottery Terminals

Missouri legislators will attempt to legalize video lottery terminals (VLTs) during the 2021 session.

The Missouri Video Lottery Control Act aims to legalize and control VLTs, which are featured in gas stations and bars throughout the state.

Last October, the Missouri State Highway Patrol seized what appeared to be three VLTs from Phillips 66 in Sullivan.

That led to charges for James McNutt, CEO of Midwest Petroleum, which owns the gas station.

Charges were filed against McNutt on Nov. 16 for three counts of possessing illegal slot machines.

According to the Washington Missourian, the highway patrol began an investigation into the machines at Phillips 66 on Oct. 5.

The probable cause statement said a trooper played several rounds of the Bourbon Street Dice game, was issued a ticket stub and presented it to the cashier for payment. 

The trooper said a player could preview the outcome of the next play, including whether they are likely to win or lose.

Due to the nature of the game, the trooper wrote that it makes it a game of chance — not skill. 

There are roughly 14,000 of these machines scattered across the state and according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri has been slow to act.

As of Oct. 6, only 72 probable cause affidavits had been forwarded to local prosecutors for illegal gambling.

In September, a judge in Platte County ruled that VLTs were illegal gaming devices. 

Judge Thomas Fincham ruled that Integrity Vending LLC was guilty of promoting gambling. 

It was expected to be a groundbreaking ruling.

A bill pre-filed in December by Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) would allow the State Lottery Commission to issue VLT licenses to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and businesses.

There would be a standard licensing fee and the commission would charge an additional $200 annual fee for each gaming terminal.

Revenue would go to K-12 and higher education and the commission would receive 36% of gross receipts.

Operators would take in the remaining profit.

Hoskins has proposed the bill every year since entering the senate in 2017.

Sen. Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) introduced a bill last January that would have allowed the Department of Public Safety to revoke a business or lottery game retailer’s liquor license if the business was convicted for an illegal gambling machine.

Following McNutt’s charges in November, Schatz told the Missourian that illegal gambling machines divert money away from education.