A gambling trial thought to be the first of its kind this century in Missouri has ended with a guilty verdict. Integrity Vending LLC was found guilty on Sept. 22 of promoting gambling in the first degree after a trial in Platte County.
“This particular technology may be new, but the law dates back to the early twentieth century,” said Platte County prosecuting attorney Eric Zahnd. “Even machines that theoretically give a player the opportunity to know the outcome of a game still constitute gambling.”
At issue in the trial were so-called “no chance” gambling machines. Those machines give the player the option to know the outcome of the game prior to playing.
In October 2018, the Parkville Police Department was notified of these machines operating at two convenience stores. Upon investigation, officers discovered three such machines operating at a Please Stop in Parkville.
Police seized the machines, and Zahnd filed charges alleging they were illegal slot machines. Integrity Vending had placed signs on the machines contending they were legal in Missouri.
“Despite the fact that these machines are commonly seen in convenience stores and other locations across Missouri, they are illegal slot machines,” Zahnd said. “This case merely reaffirms long-standing Missouri law slot machines can only be located in regulated casinos.”
Judge Thomas Fincham tried the case on Aug. 25 without a jury. Representatives of the Missouri Gaming Commission and Gaming Laboratories International testified at trial as to how the machines operated.
Prosecutors proved that players did not have to use the “prize viewer” feature to know the outcome of a game prior to playing. A representative of Integrity Vending also admitted that, if every player used the viewer, the company would not make a profit.
Following post-trial briefing, Fincham issued a guilty verdict on Sept. 22. Integrity Vending faces a fine for violating the law; sentencing is set for Nov. 23.
“There has been much debate about whether Missouri should loosen its gambling laws and allow gambling machines in places other than casinos,” Zahnd said. “That’s a decision for the legislature and Missouri voters to make. But I will never shy away from my duty to enforce the law as written.”
The case was investigated by the Parkville Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Zahnd personally handled the case with assistant prosecuting attorney Blake Sherer.