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In Missouri, a federal judge has formally shut down “no-chance” gambling machines that are located in convenience stores and petrol stations throughout the state. U.S. District Judge John A. Ross declared on February 13, 2026, that these Torch Electronics-made gadgets are, in fact, unlawful gambling machines. The long-running argument over whether these kiosks are “skill-based” or merely unauthorized slot machines has been resolved by this ruling.
The Verdict on “No-Chance”
Torch Electronics has long argued that its machines aren’t gambling because of a “prize viewer” feature. This tool lets a player see the outcome of their next spin before they commit any money. The company claimed this removed the element of chance. However, Judge Ross didn’t buy it. You might see the next result, but you don’t know what the second or third spin would produce, he said. The court determined that the games are games of chance under Missouri law since they continue to use shuffled reward pools and random number generators.
An Expensive Legal Setback
The ruling follows a major jury trial from late 2025. In that case, a jury found that Torch had lied to business owners about the legality of their games. They awarded $500,000 to a competitor, TNT Amusements, which claimed Torch used false advertising to steal its customers. With this new federal ruling, Torch now faces even deeper legal trouble. The judge’s declaration gives local prosecutors a clear green light to seize these machines and shut down operators who aren’t located inside a licensed casino.
Following a National Trend
Missouri isn’t the first state to strike down these specific machines. A Tennessee court came to the same result in July 2025. The “prize viewer” justification was likewise dismissed by the judges there, who characterized it as a ploy that fails to conceal the games’ gambling nature. These back-to-back losses suggest that the “no-chance” legal loophole is closing fast across the United States.
New Laws on the Horizon?
Legislators in Missouri are working hard to establish a legal pathway for unregulated machines, as the courts are taking tough measures against them. Days following the judge’s decision, on February 16, House Bill 2989 was passed by the Missouri House. This bill would legalize “video lottery terminals” (VLTs) in retail locations but under strict state control. If the Senate passes it, business owners could eventually replace their illegal Torch machines with licensed versions that pay taxes to the state’s education fund.
Source: U.S. District Court For Missouri
