“What we have right now are illegally operated gaming machines that are not authorized by the Missouri Lottery or the Missouri Gaming Commission,” said Erin Shrimpf, spokesperson for J&J Gaming Ventures based in Illinois. That’s what House Bill 970 looks to change. It would set up a framework for the legal use of gaming machines outside casinos, set up by licensed operators.

Gaming Lobbyist Erin Schrimpf supports the bill. “In Missouri, there is a clear demand among consumers for access to these local gaming opportunities that we’re seeing where these gaming machines are popping up in local communities. And what we want to do (break) our proposed legislation addresses this need by offering gaming options fit for local community standards, while ensuring that consumers are protected, ensuring the integrity of the games,” Schrimpf said.

Heartland News also spoke to the Chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission. Jan Zimmerman said she is not familiar with the language in HB 970 but supports regulation of outside gaming machines.

“I think any type of law or legislation that provides some sort of mechanism for those machines to be regulated would have to be a good thing. If people are doing things on the up and up, and the machines are paying as they are supposed to. Then, do you know why anybody would be hesitant to have regulation?” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman told us she had heard about the recent seizure of machines in Dunklin County. She said any gaming machine in Missouri outside of a casino is not regulated by her Commission. “We have no standing there, and so if someone calls to complain that they didn’t get that jackpot that they were playing on an illegal machine that isn’t regulated by us,” Zimmerman said. “We really don’t have anything that we can do.”

If HB 970 passes, Schrimpf said people who want to take a chance on a gaming machine can do it safely.

“What we feel our bill does is gives consumers confidence they can still have these options and support local businesses, restaurants, bars, veterans halls while also protecting small businesses and protecting consumers,” Schrimpf said.

That bill would also create an Illegal Gaming Enforcement Fund providing money that can be used by the Attorney General for investigating and prosecuting anyone breaking the law.

HB 970 passed out of the rules committee and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.