A St. Charles bar has sued Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, seeking to block her office from pursuing criminal and civil enforcement against certain electronic gaming machines that the business says are legal amusement devices, not illegal gambling machines.
Schappe Inc., doing business as Tuners Bar & Grill, filed the proposed class action June 18 in Cole County Circuit Court. The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment, temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and permanent injunction against Hanaway, who is sued in her official capacity.
The suit comes as Hanaway has moved to crack down on unregulated gaming machines across Missouri, and as gambling companies, casinos and sports betting interests pour millions of dollars into state legislative campaigns amid a fight over whether to legalize video lottery terminals…