Is Sports Betting Legal In Missouri
- There are currently six Missouri sports betting bills introduced in the state senate.
- Casinos are lobbying to have retail and mobile sports betting in Missouri run through their current operations.
- Video Lottery Terminals are legal in neighboring states and currently operate in a grey market in Missouri.
- The Kansas City Chiefs, along with other MO sports franchises are backing a bill that would pay them for official league data.
- Missouri Sports Betting Legislation
- Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Missouri
- Missouri Sports Betting Update
- Will Missouri Legalize Sports Betting
- Will Missouri Pass Sports Betting
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With only a few days until the Kansas City Chiefs play in their second straight Super Bowl, lawmakers are trying to legalize sports betting in Missouri for the second straight year.
On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations committee held a hearing for the Senate Bill 256 and Senate Bill 17. Lobbyists and various stakeholders spoke in favor or against these bills, but neither managed to pass the committee.
Missouri Sports Betting Legislation
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Missouri
There are six MO sports betting bills that have been filed for the 2021 legislative session, but these two bills are what kicked off the conversation this year.
The Argument For Senate Bill 256
MO SB 256 is sponsored by Senator Caleb Rowden. The bill would legalize sportsbooks inside of the state’s riverboat casinos or through statewide online sportsbooks partnered with these casinos.
The model follows that of most states with legal sports betting and has the support of Mark Winter, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Association.
“All of this is taking place in the illegal market now. We’re trying to bring it out of the illegal market, bring it into a legal regulated environment where we can be assured that bets are handled proper, consumers are treated fairly and those who have issues with gambling cannot participate,” saidMike Winter with the Missouri Gaming Association.
Just like in many other states, the Missouri does not regulate sports betting. As a result, you won’t be able to find any Missouri online sportsbooks or even find any in land-based casinos. Luckily, in 2020, state lawmakers have expressed some interest in allowing sports betting online. Missouri Sports Betting – Bet On Sports Legally In MO Missouri has always had a favorable stance concerning gambling. For the last several years Missouri has shown interest in joining other US states that permit legal sports betting by introducing multiple pieces of legislation related to legalizing domestic sports wagering. Bovada is one of the best sports betting sites for Missouri residents out there, and you can legally wager through their service without too many complications. Bovada is outside of Missouri jurisdiction, so it’s safe to bet on sports with Bovada while living in Missouri. 4) How long does it.
However, Winter was challenged by Senator Denny Hoskins, who has filed a bill to legalize sports betting in Missouri along with Video Lottery Terminals (VLT).
Those in Missouri’s casino market are strongly opposed to VLTs, claiming that the losses they would incur from them would outweigh any gains made from offering legal sports betting. People would simply patronize the VLTs rather than go to the casinos themselves.
“Sports wagering is already happening. We might as well legalize it,” said Hoskins during the hearing. “That’s my argument for video lottery terminals as well.”
The battle for VLT legalization could be tied into any piece of legislation trying to pass this session.
What Comes In Senate Bill 17
MO SB 17 would offer another route to attain legal sports betting in 2021. But, this measure also comes with a controversial rule.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, would also pay professional sports leagues a fee for supplying official league data.
“Consumers deserve to know that their bets are being settled using reliable, verified information… directly from the leagues and distributed real-time to mitigate the risk of incorrect results for consumers,” saidLuetkemeyer. “In the absence of this, consumers would have to rely on data that is pirated, web scraping or collected covertly in stadiums.”
Missouri Sports Betting Update
Will Missouri Legalize Sports Betting
His bill would also provide “entertainment zones” surrounding the six professional sports stadiums in Missouri.
Representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Blues all came out in support of this bill.
However, other lawmakers argued that sports betting already only brings in a minimal amount of returns and paying sports leagues would lessen those returns even further.
Neither bill passed the committee and there is no set timeline for the next time they will be heard. There also has not been a date set for the remaining bills to be heard.
Will Missouri Pass Sports Betting
News tags: Kansas City Chiefs Mike Winter Missouri Missouri Gaming Association MO Sports Betting St. Louis Blues St. Louis Cardinals Video Lottery Terminals VLT
– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.