The Missouri legislature is at it again, as two Senate bills calling for legal sports betting in the Show Me State were filed earlier this week.
A contentious issue for the last few years, both bills are similar to attempts made in 2023 — and bring up some of the same issues that caused those bills to die.
For 2024, SB 852 calls for online sports betting — including in professional team “districts" — and in-person wagering on excursion gambling boats.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Buchanan and Platte), wants to impose a 12% tax rate on adjusted gross wagering receipts with tax revenue going toward an education fund.
SB 852 also calls for self-exclusion and responsible gaming programs as well as a study every five years on the impact of gaming.
Hot topic
The second attempt — SB 824 — offers many of the same sports betting proposals and responsible gaming acts as SB 852 but with a 10% tax rate and, most importantly, video lottery terminals, a slot-machine-like game.
Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Ray, Saline, and Part of Clay) authored this bill and is a proponent of using VLTs and sports betting to fund a veteran educational program with $1 million annually.
In 2023, the legislature wouldn’t pass a similar bill because of its ties to VLTs, which many Missouri lawmakers are adamantly opposed to. It’s unclear if there will be a change in thinking in 2024.
Neither of these bills has yet to be read in the Senate, which previously denied a House bill in 2023.
Is this the year?
Missouri is surrounded by legal sports betting states, including Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas. Wagering proponents want to keep potential revenue from leaving the Show Me State, which is why legislators are taking another crack at legalization.
There are also several in-state parties in favor of bringing sports betting to Missouri, including those casino boats.
A coalition of pro sports teams, headed by the St. Louis Cardinals, is using a petition to get the decision to allow sports betting in the Show Me State on a ballot in front of voters. The Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Blues are among the other pro teams in favor of Missouri sports betting.
There is more pressure than ever for the Show Me State to show sports betting to its residents, and 2024 could be a pivotal year for that to happen, one way or another.
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