Missouri Gambling Firms Spend $4 Million Amid Row Over Slots Outside Casinos

^{A man plays on a Torch Electronics terminal at Rapid Robert’s in Springfield}

Gambling companies in Missouri have contributed more than $4 million to political campaigns amid a dispute over the legalisation of video lottery terminals, the Missouri Independent reports.

The devices are similar to slot machines: players insert money, start a game and can receive a payout.

Supporters of the proposal want the machines to be regulated through Missouri’s lottery system. That would allow them to be placed not only in casinos, but also in bars, shops and petrol stations.

For companies operating in the gaming machine market, this could become a major new segment. According to supporters of the initiative, tens of thousands of terminals could be installed in Missouri, creating a market worth up to $10 billion a year.

The state could receive additional tax revenue, but opponents of legalisation fear that slot-style machines will spread outside casinos under the lottery system.

The largest political contributions came from J&J Ventures and Torch Electronics, two gaming machine companies interested in more favourable regulation of the sector.

According to the Missouri Independent, the money went to candidates and political committees, including some linked to supporters of legalising the terminals.

However, the outlet noted that not all of the donations were directly related to this particular bill. In legal terms, the money was part of lawful political campaign financing. Still, the rise in contributions came during a fight over a potential new market: if video lottery devices are approved, they could be installed in thousands of locations across the state.