Missouri's House Emerging Issues Committee has approved a bill to legalize and regulate video slot machines

[jpetty]

Missouri's House Emerging Issues Committee has approved a bill to legalize and regulate video slot machines, requiring operators like Torch Electronics to convert their unregulated machines into state-licensed video lottery games. The measure, sponsored by Republican Rep. Bill Hardwick, aims to bring clarity to the legal status of these machines, which have operated in legal gray areas for years. Under the proposal, the Missouri Lottery would oversee the licensing and regulation of video lottery terminals, with vendors required to register each machine for a $25 fee. Current machines would be allowed to operate until the state’s regulated lottery-based system is implemented, after which operators would have 180 days to comply or remove them.
The bill allocates net winnings, with 34% going to state and local governments, 34% to terminal providers, and 33% to retailers. Projections estimate the regulated system could generate $404 million in annual government revenue, with most funds directed toward education programs. The move seeks to curb the proliferation of unregulated gambling while securing a revenue stream for public services. Despite its passage in committee, the bill faces resistance from casino interests, who argue that slot-style games should be limited to licensed casinos. The debate over video lottery terminals continues amid broader discussions on Missouri’s gambling expansion.

 

[huntercohen]

Let me guess… once they ‘regulate’ these machines, the odds will get worse, and the payouts will shrink. 34% to the government, 34% to operators, and 33% to retailers — so what’s left for the players? Feels like just another way to squeeze more money out of gamblers.