Missouri hopes to move a step closer to competing with its neighbor states and push a bill approving sports wagering through the Senate after the House overwhelmingly approved it this week.
House Bill 556 passed the House 118-35-2 on Wednesday. The next stop for Missouri sports betting is the Senate.
âThe Missouri House has traditionally been the leader on this issue and has once again sent the bill over to the Senate,â said Brant Iden, VP of Government Affairs for Fanatics and a former Michigan legislator. âHowever, this year I hope the Senate has the political will-power to push it over the finish line and start protecting the good citizens of âthe Show Me Stateâ from unscrupulous offshore operators.â
With all but three adjoining states allowing sports wagering, and Nebraska close to making it just two states, Missourians have been taking their tax dollars out of the state in order to gamble on sports contests. Thatâs costing not only lost revenue in gambling taxes, but also taxes on meals and other purchases when those residents leave the state.
âThe Missouri House clearly wants to get this done,â said B Global Managing Partner Brenden Bussmann. ââŠThose legislators should be applauded for listening to their constituents and working to legalize a market and quit having dollars go to neighboring states.â
Current Bill Resembles 2022 Version
The bill is nearly the same as last yearâs House Bill 2502 â which also cleared the House before dying on the Senate floor â with casinos allowed to offer three betting platforms and major sports teams allowed to make deals with wagering companies. Anyone over 21 would be allowed to use sports wagering apps on their phone, other mobile devices and computers to place bets within the state.
The net winnings from MO betting apps would produce a 10% tax for the state and would not include promotional costs such as free bets that casinos and wagering companies use to draw gamblers to their service.
Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, has been the biggest obstacle in the past to the billâs passage because he has sought to include video lottery games in bars, restaurants and truck stops in the bill. His current bill seeking to marry the two issues didnât make it out of committee.
âIâm glad the House has taken action,â Hoskins said. âI look forward to working with the House sponsor and my senate colleagues on the gambling bill to do whatâs best for Missourians. I do have some concerns as the bill does not include any money for veteran homes, including my veterans home in Warrensburg, and very little funding for problem/compulsive gambling.â
Many are hoping to see the bill finally get approved to be able to use Missouri sportsbook promos that states nearby are getting the benefit from. A legislative research report says passage could mean between $21 and $29 million in revenue to benefit education in Missouri.
âAs we have seen in previous years, the block had been in the Senate and largely rests with one personâs self interest in another measure,â Bussmann said. âAnyone that says they are going to go for the block after their own bill gets defeated isnât interested in good policy or his constituents. Itâs time Missouri got this done after five years.â
