Missouri AG targets illegal gambling machines in five local businesses
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is cracking down on illegal gambling machines in small businesses. Since launching her campaign in 2024, authorities have seized or shut down over 12,000 such devices across the state. The latest legal action targets five venues in Dunklin County, including shops accused of turning a blind eye to unlawful betting.
The AG's office has filed lawsuits against five Dunklin County businesses: Discount Spirits and Tobacco, Kennett Liquor and Tobacco, and Laura's Mini Mart among them. Hanaway accuses these shops of profiting from illegal gambling by allowing unregulated slot machines on their premises. She has pledged to hold owners accountable and remove the devices entirely.
Local prosecutors have taken further steps. Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain has pressed criminal charges against the same five businesses, adding to the civil penalties sought by Hanaway's team. The legal picture remains murky, however. A federal jury recently ruled that one manufacturer's machines met the legal definition of gambling, yet many similar devices continue to operate in a grey area.
Hanaway's push follows earlier efforts by her predecessor, Andrew Bailey, to tackle the issue. While some Missouri residents support stricter enforcement, others remain divided over whether harsher legal action is the right approach.
The crackdown has already led to over 12,000 machines being removed since 2024. With lawsuits and criminal charges now filed, the outcome could set a precedent for how Missouri handles unregulated gambling in small businesses. The state's courts will ultimately decide whether these operations violate existing laws.
