New Year, New Sports Betting Legislation Introduced in Missouri

Against the backdrop of neighboring states like Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Arkansas having already legalized sp[orts betting, there were high hopes something would get done in Missouri in 2023. It did not come to pass. Still, it was made clear by several legislators that the new year would present new opportunities to get it done.

Barely a week into the new year, two sports betting bills have already been introduced in the Missouri legislature.

Introduction of SB852 & SB824

First up was Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer who has filed SB852. The details of this bill are as follows:

• The state's riverboat casino would be permitted to offer retail sports betting access
  
• Riverboat casinos would be permitted to partner with up to three (3) mobile operators
  
• Missouri professional sports franchises would be permitted to partner with one (1) mobile operator
  
• A tax rate of 12% would be charged on gross wagering receipts (AGR)
  
• Tax revenue would go to the state's education fund
  
• Initial license fee would be $100,000 per license with renewal fees charged every four (4) years
  
• Responsible gambling studies would be required every five (5) years
  
• Minimum sports betting gambling age would be set at 21 years old
  
• No betting on high school sports of any kind
  
• Betting on in-state colleges and college prop bets would be prohibited
  
• Bonus promotions would be deductible at 100% in year one (1), dropping to 25% thereafter
  

Next up was SB824, which was filed by Sen. Denny Hoskins. Hoskins has long been an advocate for the legalization of sports betting in the state. While SB824 is quite similar to SB852, there are a few notable differences, namely

• Each riverboat casino would be limited to two mobile partnerships
  
• The initial license fee would be $250k for the first mobile partnership and $500k for the next one (1)
  
• An additional provision for an applicable tax rate of 10% would be levied on video lottery terminals (VLTs)
  

The Process Moving Forward

This isn't the first sports betting rodeo for Missouri's sports betting proponents. They got close in November 2023 when Secretary of State John Jay Ashcroft officially approved the ballot language on the last proposal of the year.

The process moving forward is familiar. Under the control of the Missouri Pro Sports Coalition, a total of 170,000 voter signatures will need to be secured to get either bill on the November 2024 election ballot. If successful, it would be up to voters to decide the fate of sports betting in Missouri.

While prior attempts have failed, there is support for said activities among Missouri residents. It's just a matter of getting the language right to gain the support of residents who a seemingly on the fence. If successful this time, residents could be legally betting on sports by the middle of 2025.