"In a decision handed down Friday (February 13), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri found that the devices violate Missouri's gambling statutes. U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sided with TNT Amusements, Inc. in its lawsuit against Torch Electronics, LLC, the company behind the so-called "no-chance" machines placed in businesses statewide and marketed as lawful alternatives to traditional slot machines."
"He wrote that the devices "readily meet the foregoing definitions in § 572.010 because they allow players to 'risk[] something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or future contingent event not under his or her control or influence,'" making them usable in gambling activity. He later added, "Like the order of a shuffled deck of cards, the list of prize multipliers is unpredictable and beyond the player's control,""
A federal judge found that slot-style "no-chance" machines operating in Missouri bars, restaurants and convenience stores violate state gambling statutes. A jury concluded Torch Electronics made false and misleading statements about the machines and awarded TNT Amusements $500,000 for lost profits and harm to reputation following a five-day trial. Judge John A. Ross separately determined the devices meet Missouri's statutory definition of a gambling device because players risk something of value and prize multipliers are unpredictable. The court rejected the claim that a prize viewer eliminated chance and noted widespread use does not make the devices legal. Torch intends to appeal pending final judgment.
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