Missouri Attorney General Faces Criticism from American Gaming Association for Recusing Self from eSports Betting Lawsuit
The head of the American Gaming Association (AGA), Bill Miller, has criticized Missouri's Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey for not fulfilling his public duties properly. Miller believes that Bailey has failed in his role as Attorney General due to his decision to step down from a legal case involving gaming manufacturer Torch Electronics and Warrenton Oil. The suit accuses the Missouri State Highway Patrol of intimidation and harassment against video gaming businesses.
Torch Electronics produces and distributes slot-like machines known as "No-Chance Games," which operate in a unique way. They exhibit the result of the next spin before the player starts spinning, encouraging gamblers to lose on purpose to reach a desired outcome. The company claims these machines are exempt from Missouri's gambling laws due to this difference in operation.
In April, Bailey stated his reason for recusing himself from the Torch lawsuit as an unnamed conflict of interest issue. However, Miller and others argue that Bailey's withdrawal was due to the substantial donations he received from Torch and Warrenton. The state now needs to employ a private law firm to defend the state police in court.
Miller, a leading gaming lobbyist, claimed Bailey's reluctance to protect Missourians from these unscrupulous operators arises from either a lack of comprehension of the severity of the issue or placing his political ambitions above the interests of the people. He pointed out that Bailey received thousands of dollars from PACs (Political Action Committees) funded by the owners or lobbyists of these unlicensed machines, as revealed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Miller asserted that Bailey's position demands that the welfare of the state's citizens should take precedence over any personal aspirations. According to Miller, these unlicensed gaming terminals in Missouri typically come with worse odds than the regulated slot machines found at the state's licensed commercial riverboats. AGA research found that riverboat slot machines hold onto an average of 7 cents for every dollar gambled, while unregulated machines retain around 25 cents.
Furthermore, Miller suggested that unregulated gaming can lead to increased crime and drug use in the community. He used the 2020 murder of a 7-Eleven employee, where criminals were informed that the store frequently held large cash quantities to award No-Chance Games prizes, as an example. The presence of unlicensed gaming terminals can also facilitate other illegal activities, such as money laundering and the proliferation of weapons.
In his op-ed, Miller appeared to parrot the anti-gambling rhetoric, warning of the dangers associated with widespread unregulated gaming.
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Source: www.casino.org
