Missouri Attorney General Hanaway launches crackdown on illegal gambling machines
Missouri Attorney General Hanaway and her office have announced a new civil enforcement drive to root out illegal gambling machines.
The games in scope of this action are video gaming terminals (VGTs) and what state regulators call “fishing table games,” which remain unlicensed in the state.
It is a felony for any illegal gambling to take place within state boundaries, and it can carry substantial financial and custodial penalties for breaching the well-established Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
Licensed operators are governed by the processes established by the Missouri Gaming Commission, which is headed by Governor Mike Kehoe.
Missouri Attorney General takes aim at VGTs
“When retail shops turn a blind eye or facilitate a space for illegal gambling, they are not only ignoring the law, they are putting our communities at risk,” said Attorney General Hanaway via a publication on the state office’s website.
As part of an announcement from the legal hierarchy in the Ozark State, five major legal cases have been opened against retail businesses in Dunklin County for hosting unauthorised gaming machines.
These locations were highlighted by the Attorney General’s post. They include Discount Spirits and Tobacco, Kennett Liquor and Tobacco, and Laura’s Mini Mart in Kennett, along with Dixie Package and Swindle’s Quick Shop in Malden.
“Promoting gambling is a felony offense that harms our community by taking Missourians’ hard-earned money. I am proud to work with the Attorney General’s Office to hold those who operate illegal slot machines accountable,” said Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain.
In a statement on social media, Hanaway announced the impending civil action, saying, “Our Office will continue to work with local prosecutors and state officials to root out these illegal gambling halls.”
Illegal VGTs are in the crosshairs of the Attorney General
Missouri has had a long-established relationship with one form of betting or another: lotteries, approved in 1986; riverboat locations, approved in 1994; and daily fantasy sports, legal since 2010.
In December 2025, we reported on the new avenues coming to the state through sports betting. This amendment to the Show-Me State’s gambling laws permitted FanDuel and bet365 to gain new gambling ground and a host of would-be bettors as a result.
What is illegal and remains so is any form of electronic gaming machines or the VGT’s mentioned in the Attorney General’s publication.
“Lawlessness has always been a magnet for organized crime. My Office will hold any business accountable for profiting off of unlawful activity, and we will do everything in our power to shut illegal gaming and gambling machines down,” concluded Hanaway.
Featured image: Office of the Missouri Attorney General
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