A class action lawsuit against Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway over her office’s enforcement of certain gaming machines has been filed by a St. Charles bar owner.
What We Know: The lawsuit, filed on June 18th, by Tuners Bar and Grill in St. Charles and its owner Schappe Inc. challenges Missouri’s classification of certain gaming machines that were deemed illegal in a court ruling in February.
A federal judge in that case found that thousands of types of video lottery terminals that operate in gas stations are illegal. The suit filed by Tuners Bar says that Hanaway did not have the authority to rewrite Missouri’s criminal code based on the court ruling and that “pre-reveal” or preview electronic amusement devices were incorrectly classified as illegal.
What It Means: The lawsuit claims the devices at issue do not match the description of an illegal gaming device and that Missouri law “does not criminalize every machine that accepts payment, displays lights, entertains customers, or awards prizes.”
Hanaway has worked with local prosecutors since February to pursue criminal charges and order removal of no-chance gaming devices from Missouri businesses.
The plaintiffs seek a court order preventing future enforcement actions and a ruling that state gambling laws do not apply to the so-called “electronic amusement devices.”
What They’re Saying: The Attorney General’s office said in a statement to the press Tuesday that they were aware of the lawsuit and they are reviewing it to determine their next steps.