LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission has removed several illegal slot machines from gas stations in Leavenworth and Lansing, Kansas.
The Lansing and Leavenworth police departments confirmed to 41 Action News that officers were asked to assist the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission in serving four search warrants Wednesday morning.
"I came out from work and there was a cop car blocking off the Metropolitan entrance and then there was an unmarked car blocking off [another] entrance,” said Anthony Brugman, who works across the street from one of the stores. ”They were just there for four hours.”
The Racing and Gaming Commission launched an investigation due to citizen complaints about illegal gaming machines.
One gas station in Lansing and three gas stations in Leavenworth were part of the investigation. The stores included the Finish Line on Main Street, the Fast Stop on Metropolitan Street, Hometown Gas and More on Broadway Street, and the Conoco off of Fourth Avenue.
The commission confirmed to 41 Action News Thursday investigators seized eight illegal gaming machines and the money associated with them. All of the machines were games of chance, the commission said, and none of them were hidden.
"A lot of gas stations seemed like they had them," Brugman said. "They had those quarter machines that you put the quarters in and it moves back and forth."
41 Action News reporter Ariel Rothfield spoke off-camera with the owner of the Conoco. He said investigators with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission presented warrants for the store's two slot machines, removed them and took the store's money.
The owner admitted he has had the machines against the wall in plain view inside his store for about five months. He denied knowing they were illegal and said a company approached him about installing the machines.
In Kansas, most types of gambling are illegal. There are a few exemptions, which include state-owned and tribal casinos, dog and horse racing in regulated and state-licensed facilities, bingo-run games by regulated and licensed nonprofit organizations, and state-owned and operated lotteries.
The Racing and Gaming Comission told 41 Action News investigators are running forensics on the machines.
The commission will then turn that information over to the county prosecutor, who will decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges.
The agent 41 Action News spoke to said the commission receives reports about the machines, most of which are located in local convenience stores, from all across the state.
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