The two served together in the Missouri House. When Tilley resigned as speaker in 2012 to become a political consultant, Parson was among his initial clients.

Gregg Keller, a spokesman for Torch and a Missouri GOP operative, did not respond to a request for comment.

Ashlock said the call was peculiar.

“It wasn’t improper, but it was unusual. I don’t have many lobbyists calling me,” he said.

Ashlock said he also received a call from a Torch attorney. The company, he said, argued the machines are legal because players have the option of viewing the outcome of a wager before they move forward with it.

Ashlock said there are no payout requirements for unregulated machines, meaning the operators can keep more money than they could in one of the state’s 13 regulated casinos.

“People are just getting cheated on them and they don’t know it,” he said.

Gaming machines spreading across Missouri present new addiction concerns Lack of regulation means no gambler exclusion lists, no anti-addiction programs and no rules that govern acceptable payouts.

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Lohmar, president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said he also was contacted by a Torch attorney.