Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen, and Parkville Police Chief Kevin Chrisman oversaw the public destruction of five gambling machines on Thursday, Oct. 7 by the Platte County Public Works Department at 15955 Hwy. 273 in Platte City. The machines were seized by the Parkville Police Department in 2018 as part of an investigation into illegal gambling occurring at two convenience stores in Parkville. Integrity Vending LLC owned the machines. Last September, Zahnd’s office won a conviction in the first Missouri case involving modern day so-called “no chance” gambling machines. Under Missouri law, the machines must be “publicly destroyed.” Platte County Circuit Judge Ann Hansbrough ordered the destruction of the machines in August. The machines were smashed by the bucket of a track hoe. “Gambling is legal in regulated Missouri casinos. These completely unregulated, so-called ‘no-chance’ machines popping up in convenience stores are not legal. We protect consumers, keep children from gambling, and make sure proceeds are directed to education by enforcing the law to publicly destroy illegal gambling machines,” Zahnd said.
Contributed photo
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