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Missouri Sports Betting Hopes Receive Last Minute Revival

Robert Linnehan

by Robert Linnehan in Sports Betting News

Updated May 9, 2023 · 2:07 PM PDT

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May 3, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is congratulated by bench coach Joe McEwing (77) after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
  • An amendment to a Senate bill has been passed by the House to legalize sports betting
  • Rep. Dan Houx proposed the amendment to a Senate tax credit bill
  • One Senator does not believe the amendment is constitutional

Once thought long dead, Missouri sports betting chances received a much needed revival in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Dan Houx  (R-54) submitted a sports betting amendment to a Senate tax and economic development bill that was before the House of Representatives this afternoon. The bill, and the amendment, was approved and will now be sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Here’s where it gets interesting, though. Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-21) authored the bill, SB 92, that is serving as a vehicle for Houx’s sports betting amendment. Hoskins is widely seen as the biggest obstacle Missouri faces when it comes to legalizing sports betting.

Hoskins has told Sports Betting Dime that the amendment is unrelated to his original bill and would not constitutionally be allowed to remain in his legislation.

Last Gasp Effort for Missouri Sports Betting?

As Missouri’s legislative session ends on Friday, this could be the last chance for sports betting in the Show Me State.

Houx’s amendment largely mirrors his previously introduced sports betting bill. His bill was approved by the House in March, but has yet to be heard in a Senate Committee.

His amendment seeks to legalize online and retail sports betting for state casinos and Missouri professional sports franchises.

If the tax and economic development bill is approved, the amendment will allow Missouri casinos to partner with up to three sports betting operators and professional sports franchises the ability to partner with up to one operator. In-person sports betting will only be available at state casinos.

The biggest difference in Houx’s amendment compared with his previous bill is a 15% sports betting tax rate on adjusted gross revenues. All of Houx’s attempts in the past included a 10% tax rate.

Hoskins Confident Amendments Will Not Move Forward

It’s an interesting tactic from Houx, tacking his sports betting amendment to Hoskin’s unrelated bill. However, Hoskins is confident the amendments will not be approved.

The senator told Sports Betting Dime that the unrelated amendments to his bill would create a “Hammerschmidt issue and would be overthrown by our judicial system.”

Hoskins is referring to a 1994 Missouri Supreme Court decision titled “Hammerschmidt v. Boone County,” which upheld a Constitutional rule against the introduction or passage of bills containing more than a single subject.

“Bill DeWitt, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the bill sponsor (Houx) have both publicly said they believe sportsbook should pass on its own and they don’t believe other gaming legislation fits on a sportsbook only bill. I’m sure they would agree with me that sportsbook legislation also doesn’t fit in bills relating to bringing more jobs and economic development to rural Missouri, which is the underlying bill, SB 92,” Hoskins told Sports Betting Dime.

The Missouri Senate will likely discuss the bill prior to its session ending on Friday, May 12.

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