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JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House gave first-round approval Monday to a plan to bring the state in line with its neighbors when it comes to legalized Sports Betting.
The legislation, which has the backing of the state’s major league sports teams and casinos, needs one more vote in the lower chamber before moving to the Senate, where the issue has stalled in recent years.
The preliminary vote in the House was a near repeat of last year’s attempt to allow people to wager money on athletic events.
The House acted quickly in 2022, but the measure ran aground in the Senate amid arguments over whether Sports Betting should be tied to the thorny issue of video gambling in gas stations and convenience stores.
The time around, lawmakers are debating the matter under the cloud of two federal lawsuits that are seeking to stop a politically connected Wildwood-based company from continuing to place unregulated slot machines in businesses across the state.
The legal action focuses on Torch Electronics, which is represented in the Capitol by former House Speaker Steve Tilley, who now runs a powerful lobbying firm.
The bills endorsed Monday, which are sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, and Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, would impose a 10% tax rate on sports bets.
Revenue generated from betting would go to the state’s education fund. The Missouri Gaming Commission would oversee the program.
Each version would earmark at least $500,000 for compulsive gambling problems.
The plan would allow mobile betting as well as in-person betting at casinos and in locations at the professional stadiums and arenas.
Houx said he was not opposed to a higher tax rate if that’s what is needed for the measure to win Senate approval.
“We’re going to find a happy medium,” Houx said.
JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House gave first-round approval Monday to a plan to bring the state in line with its neighbors when it comes to legalized Sports Betting.
The legislation, which has the backing of the state’s major league sports teams and casinos, needs one more vote in the lower chamber before moving to the Senate, where the issue has stalled in recent years.
The preliminary vote in the House was a near repeat of last year’s attempt to allow people to wager money on athletic events.
The House acted quickly in 2022, but the measure ran aground in the Senate amid arguments over whether Sports Betting should be tied to the thorny issue of video gambling in gas stations and convenience stores.
The time around, lawmakers are debating the matter under the cloud of two federal lawsuits that are seeking to stop a politically connected Wildwood-based company from continuing to place unregulated slot machines in businesses across the state.
The legal action focuses on Torch Electronics, which is represented in the Capitol by former House Speaker Steve Tilley, who now runs a powerful lobbying firm.
The bills endorsed Monday, which are sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, and Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, would impose a 10% tax rate on sports bets.
Revenue generated from betting would go to the state’s education fund. The Missouri Gaming Commission would oversee the program.
Each version would earmark at least $500,000 for compulsive gambling problems.
The plan would allow mobile betting as well as in-person betting at casinos and in locations at the professional stadiums and arenas.
Houx said he was not opposed to a higher tax rate if that’s what is needed for the measure to win Senate approval.
“We’re going to find a happy medium,” Houx said.
