Fuel to the fire: Torch Electronics to appeal case in Missouri

After a County Court judge dropped its case arguing that its No Chance Games were legal, Torch Electronics aims for further litigation.

Torch Electronics plans to appeal the drop of its case against the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) has also issued a statement supporting the seizure of Torch’s gaming machines.

Currently, Torch’s No Chance Games are present and unregulated in locations such as convenience stores, gas stations and truckstops.

According to local reports, Chuck Hatfield, the attorney for Torch Electronics and other plaintiffs in the case that began in 2021, sent a text message stating he would file an appeal. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green did not agree with Torch’s claims that its games do not violate state gambling laws.

Hatfield said, “We look forward to our day in court and a determination that these amusement devices are legal.”

In an MGA statement also released this week, however, support was given for addressing and seizing ‘illegal slot machines.’ In a statement posted on behalf of the Missouri Casino Industry, the MGA said, “Torch Electronics is an illegal competitor and its illegal gaming devices are harming our members.

“Until Missouri can pass legislation to address illegal slot machines in Missouri, law enforcement is left to deal with the issue on their own. With an estimated 14,000 of these machines across the state, we agree that widespread seizures are needed to deter operators from continuing to skim funds from Missourians.”

Torch contends that a feature in its No Chance Games does not qualify the games as ‘illegal slot machines,’ due to a ‘pre-reveal’ aspect of the games which shows the outcome of the next play and therefore lets players choose to end the game if they could lose money during play. According to Torch, these outcomes are not randomly generated, which also makes them legal in the eyes of state law.

State law, however, has been called into question previously with state Attorney General Andrew Bailey calling slot machines ‘complex’ during a radio show appearance last May.  

Stephanie Feeley

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