The slot machine company Torch Electronics in Wildwood, Missouri recently sued Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson in an effort to have the Greene County Circuit Court stop an investigative subpoena into its operations. It’s the second time Torch has filed a lawsuit to try to delay law enforcement scrutiny. In February, Torch sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Cole County Circuit Court, asking the court to stop state troopers from seizing its machines as part of a statewide crackdown on illegal slots.
The company, facing felony illegal gambling charges in Linn County, maintains its machines, found in gas stations, restaurants and truck stops throughout Missouri, are not illegal gambling devices but are legal “amusement devices.”
The latest lawsuit attempts to suppress an investigative subpoena issued June 14 seeking to “compel the production of a wide range of documents including third-party contracts/agreements, financial records and technical information.” The lawsuit also said the subpoena “lacks appropriate limitation” and would force the company to turn over “privileged information.” It states, “Compliance with the subpoena would be unreasonable and oppressive, as Torch is legally entitled to own, operate and license its amusement devices under Missouri law.”
Although the Highway Patrol has declared the slot-like machines to be illegal, not all county prosecutors have pursued charges against video slot machine companies. Lawmakers have tried to clearly ban games that are not state-regulated. But Torch and its army of lobbyists have pushed back against those attempts.
Last month, Torch, along with Warrenton Oil, contributed more than $275,000 to political action committees associated with lobbyist Steve Tilley, a former House Speaker, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
The Missouri Gaming Association, representing the state’s licensed casinos, stated it supports the Highway Patrol’s efforts to police the games, which are not taxed or regulated. In a statement, the MGA said it “supports the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s investigations and recent mass seizures of illegal slot machines at Missouri gas stations, truck stops and restaurants. Because last session’s legislative efforts to address illegal slot machines in Missouri failed, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is now left to deal with the issue on their own.”
