JEFFERSON CITY — After years of inaction by Missouri lawmakers, the push may be on to take aim at the tens of thousands of illegal slot machines spreading across the state.

In the first meeting of a special House committee formed to address gambling laws in the state, the chairman of the panel said Thursday that he believes Missourians want to unplug the illegal terminals, which have popped up in gas stations, taverns and convenience stores.

“The people are very clear: They want regulated gaming. They want to be sure they are getting their money’s worth,” said Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial. “It is the elephant in the room. What do we do with it?”

At issue are the growing number of machines that work like slot machines. A player inserts money, selects a game and decides how much to wager. Players who win money can cash out and get paid by the store cashier.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has deemed the terminals “gambling devices,” which are prohibited outside of Missouri’s 13 licensed casinos.