A judge has rejected the third and final lawsuit attempting to stop the ban on the Iowa Lottery’s TouchPlay machines from taking effect Thursday. Attorney General Tom Miller calls it a “sound legal decision” and he says it means the ban will now go into effect at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Five companies had filed the lawsuit challenging the ban, saying they will be forced to default on millions of dollars worth of loans if their TouchPlay machines cease operation on May 4th.
A Polk County Judge issued the ruling this (Tuesday) morning, saying that while the ban would be “devastating” for the companies, they would not likely succeed in proving the Legislature exceeded its authority to ban the slot-machine-like games. The companies had asked the judge to issue a stay which would have delayed implementation of the ban on TouchPlay machines until the legal challenge of the ban had run its course in court.
Nearly 6,500 TouchPlay machines have been installed in about 3000 Iowa businesses.