A Missouri-based company accused of operating illegal gambling devices filed a lawsuit alleging state law enforcements crackdown on rogue slot machines is a campaign of harassment and intimidation.

Torch Electronics, LLC, filed its lawsuit Friday in Cole County against the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

The company alleges the state exceeded its authority by removing Torch machines from Warrenton Oils convenience stores, as well as other locations. Warrenton Oil joined Torch in the lawsuit.

These government officials continue to threaten to remove Torch devices based solely on their own incorrect interpretations of Missouri gambling laws, the lawsuit, filed by Jefferson City attorney Charles Hatfield, states.

As such, the lawsuit continues, judicial intervention is necessary to prevent the department and the Highway Patrol from exceeding their authority by continuing to remove Torch amusement devices from convenience stores.

The lawsuit comes as Missouri legislative leaders are pushing for tougher regulations to root out illegal gambling machines across the state.

On Monday, the Senate briefly debated a bill sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, that would grant the Missouri Gaming Commission authority to go after these machines.

It also allows for the revocation of a liquor license of any businesses found to be allowing the machines to operate on their premises.

I just want them to stop violating the law, Schatz said of the illegal machines.

Torch Electronics opposes the bill, arguing that it would put the company out of business.

The machines in question operate similarly to what youd find in a casino. A player inserts money, selects a game and decides how much they wish to wager. Winners get paid by the store cashier.

Missouri officials estimate there are 14,000 of these machines across the state.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has deemed them gambling devices, which are prohibited outside of licensed casinos, and the state highway patrol considers them illegal.

Torch disagrees, saying its machines reveal the outcome of the wager before the player moves forward. Thus, the company argues, they are not a game of chance and therefore not illegal.

Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, doesnt buy Torchs argument that its machines are not illegal gambling.

Because these machines operate outside the law, Hegeman said, there are no consumer protections in place and they do not abide by the same restrictions as other slot machines including that a portion of proceeds goes to fund public education.

Im passionate about getting after these illegal machines who are stealing money from our kids for their own personal benefit, he said. It makes me mad. It makes me upset. They need to be taken out. They need to be destroyed. They need to get out of the state of Missouri.

Last year, Hegeman earmarked $150,000 in Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitts budget to crack down on illegal gaming machines around the state.

Schmitt initially declined to spend the money until a case involving illegal gambling machines in Platte County was resolved. That case ended last month, with Kansas-based Integrity Vending paying a fine after being found guilty of promoting gambling in the first degree.

Integrity Vending chose not to appeal the ruling.

The attorney generals office then said the case proves that these cases are local matters that should be handled by local prosecutors.

Hegeman said if the attorney general doesnt spend the money, we will probably make an adjustment to that. If we give them the resources to do that, and they dont, then we will find something else to do with it.

The attorney generals office declined comment.

I heard for two years that we need to wait for the Platte County case. As soon as that is adjudicated, well take action, Schatz said Monday. Well, that case is resolved.

In addition to filing a lawsuit, Torch Electronics also earlier this month donated $10,000 to a political action committee connected to its lobbyist, Steve Tilley.

Last summer, the company gave $90,000 to a different PAC connected to Tilley, and that money was doled out to various lawmakers in the run-up to the November election.

Tilley is also a longtime friend and adviser to Gov. Mike Parson, as well as one of his top fundraisers. Torch donated $20,000 to a PAC supporting Parsons bid for governor.

In its lawsuit, Torch is asking a Cole County judge to declare that its machines are not gambling devices and that the state overstepped its authority when it removed machines from convenient stores.

The company also wants the judge to prevent the state from removing or participating in the removal of any Torch machines from convenience stores moving forward.

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Mo. company accused of illegal gambling sues the state - Griffon News