JEFFERSON CITY — Senate Republican leaders last week deemed the regulation of Missouri’s “gray market” slot machines a nonpriority with unlikely chance of passage.

House Bill 2989, sponsored by Rep. Bill Hardwick, R-Dixon, would create a state monitored lottery system replacing current games on convenience store slot machines as a way for legislators and law enforcement to rein in outside companies profiting from unregulated machines. It has been a long-standing effort for several years by these groups.

The bill would also implement a 3% tax on revenue generated by the machines to go to local municipalities to enforce rules for the machines. The gaming machines would also be required to pay out at least 80% of money wagered as prizes over its lifetime. A little under one-third of these profits would be taxes by the state and go towards education funding.

Because these machines fall under a legal gray area, they are often referred to as “gray machines.” The machines are also often called “no-chance” machines because the outcome is not selected randomly, like similar slot machines. The bill would regulate them into what Hardwick calls video lottery terminals, or VLTs.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway told legislators Thursday that the state had joined a federal investigation of “illegal” slot machines and the profits that are flowing from Missourians to companies, like Torch Electronics, that own these games.

Absent action by the legislature, Hanaway said it was her determination that the machines are illegal.

Hanaway’s comments come as the House prepares to debate the regulation bill.

Despite Hanaway’s comments, Senate Republicans expressed no major support for the current VLT bill, stating that it is “virtually identical” to an amendment offered two years ago that also focused on regulation of the gaming machines.

“There would have to be a lot of senators that have changed their positions two years ago for that to have a realistic shot,” said Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, the majority floor leader.

The bill was passed by the House Emerging Issues Committee on an 8-5 vote Wednesday with three Republicans joining two Democrats in opposition.

Both side of the aisle seem to present only shaky support for the legislation as last year’s bill passed in the House with just one vote more than the 82 needed, then died in the Senate.

Those opposed to gambling have joined with convenience store operators who benefit from the machines to help stall legislation in recent years.

Senate President Pro Tem Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, said her opposition comes from her desire to see more focus on decreasing societal impacts from gambling.

“In the short time that I’ve been here, it just seems that we have talked about so many gambling bills, and (using the) taxes to pay for veterans and education,” O’Laughlin said. “But no one talks about the societal costs of it.”