Columbia City Council passes ordinance restricting ‘gray’ gaming machines
Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia is continuing the crack down on unregulated gaming machines with a new ordinance.
An ordinance was passed at Monday night’s council meeting against the maintenance and offering of illegal gaming or lottery machines.
Previous reporting shows the city has been targeting unregulated machines known as “gray machines” or “no-chance machines.” The machines have been described as being “skill-based,” which has brought up questions of legality. The Columbia ban includes include a $1,000 fine or 30 days in jail.
Owning the machine is still not illegal, it just has to remain off and unused.
More than a dozen businesses allegedly operated an unregulated machine. The City Council looked to ban the use of those gaming machines as far back as February, but held off as the state appeared to have been moving forward with legislation at the time.
Anthony Gier, the owner of Eagle Stop convenience stores was charged May 12 in Boone and Miller counties after a statewide sting.
He was charged with four counts of first-degree promoting gambling in both counties. An initial court appearance is scheduled in Miller County for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, while a hearing is set in Boone County for 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 26.
Similar felony and misdemeanor charges were filed on four other business owners.
On Feb. 10, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway also focused on unregulated gaming enforcement by suing five businesses with gaming machines in Dunklin County.