Where Does Missouri Sports Betting Stand Right Now?

• The Missouri legislature reconvenes on March 20
• Both the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives are considering sports betting bills
• Video lottery terminals will not be included with sports betting

Missouri sports betting efforts seemed to shoot out of a cannon at the start of the Show-Me state’s 2023 legislative session, but have slowed down considerably as both chambers are on break until March 20.

Both the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives have sports betting bills scheduled for their perfection calendars, but neither chamber has given either pieces of legislation a hearing on their floors as of yet.

State legislators will meet through May 12, so where do Missouri’s sports betting chances stand?

Missouri Senate Slowed by Filibuster

The final two days of Missouri’s Senate session before its spring break were taken by  Democratic Senators filibustering a bill to ban gender-affirming healthcare for state minors. Senators spoke at length on the issue through the final two days of the session before adjourning for spring break a day early.

The Senate briefly reconvened on Wednesday, March 15, but sports betting was not addressed. So where does that leave Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s sports betting bill, SB 30, which seeks to legalize retail and online sports betting in the state when the session kicks back off on Monday?

Luckily for sports betting hopefuls in the Show-Me state time is still on their side, as bills will still be considered until Friday, May 12.

SB 30 is currently on the Senate’s calendar of bills for “perfection,” which would see the document called to the Senate floor for potential amendments. After all amendments are considered, the bill will either be approved “as perfected” and move on to its third hearing, or it will be voted down and not move forward.

Video Lottery Terminals Not Included

Luetkemeyer’s bill seeks to legalize online and retail sports betting in the state, but does not include a video lottery terminal (VLT) element. The bill sets the sports betting tax rate at 10% of adjusted gross gaming revenue.

Missouri casinos, under SB 30, may conduct retail sports betting with up to three individually branded interactive sports betting platforms. It may conduct online sports betting with up to one interactive sports wagering platform.

Application fees for each license will cost $100,000. An online sports betting platform can apply to the Missouri Gaming Commission to conduct sports wagering through an application fee not to exceed $150,000. Every year after licensure, the platforms can submit a renewal fee not to exceed $125,000.

Another hopeful point? It seems as if Missouri lawmakers in both chambers have settled on dealing with sports betting on its own, bifurcating it from the controversial VLT element that derailed its chances in the 2022 session.

The Senate Appropriations committee blocked a bill from Sen. Danny Hoskins that would have legalized sports betting and video lottery terminals, a form of gambling that would be allowed in certain state truck stops, rest stops, and certain businesses that have a liquor license. The committee’s decision to move ahead a sports betting only bill likely offer us a glimpse into lawmakers’ thinking this session.

Hoskins’ bill, SB 1, allowed for VLTs “in fraternal organizations, veterans’ organizations, and truck stops, as such terms are defined in the act, and in business entities licensed to sell liquor by the drink.” VLTs would have been taxed at 36% and lottery facilities would be capped at five machines, with other entities at eight machines.

While it seems like good news that the Senate has divorced the two issue, Hoskins has blocked sports betting legislation before that did not include VLTs. He has alluded that he will do the same this year when the bill is brought up on the floor.

Waiting on Perfection from House of Reps

A very similar sports betting bill to Luetkemeyer’s currently sits in the Missouri House of Representatives, waiting for its chance to be called for perfection. The House briefly held a technical session on Thursday, March 16, but sports betting was not addressed.

Rep. Dan Houx (R-54) and Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R-106) have identical pieces of sports betting legislation that have made their way through House committees and currently are waiting to be called for perfection on the House floor.

The  bills, HB 556 and HB 581, both of which will legalize retail and online sports betting for state casinos and Missouri professional sports franchises, were recently approved by the Rules Committee and were moved to the House. Both are on the House’s informal schedule for perfection.

The bills have the backing of every professional sports franchise in the state and most of the state casinos.

If approved, the legislation 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 bills set the sports betting tax rate at 10% of adjusted gross revenue and do not include a VLT component.

So Where Does that Leave Missouri?

It likely leaves the Show-Me State with the best chance it has ever had to legalize sports betting this year. Both the House and Senate seem to agree that sports betting should not include VLTs, which derailed 2022 efforts to legalize.

Both sports betting bills in the Senate and House are similar enough that any potential disagreements should be able to be ironed out before the May 12 deadline to push bills through.

However, the VLT issue still looms large. Hoskins has blocked legislation in the past that has not included the legalization of VLTs, so it’s not out of the question that he’ll take the same tact again this year.