An exasperated Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals professional baseball team, said the inaction by the Missouri state Legislature might require the need to put a sports betting referendum on the 2024 ballot.
DeWitt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the senate’s infighting and delaying has put the bills regarding legalizing sports betting in peril. The legislative session for 2023 ends in less than two weeks.
“We’re going to take a serious look at that,” DeWitt said.
This is the second consecutive year that the Senate has held up sports betting legislation. The House has approved it quickly both times.
The issue in the Senate is illegal slot machines. Senator Denny Hoskins has held up the bill because he wants to include video lottery terminals (VLTs) in the legislation. An attempt to insert it in the bill lost 20-11 last month.
Still, Hoskins remains determined to try and kill the bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx. He does remain coy, however, when asked about the legislation.
“I know I get a lot of the blame for sports book not passing but neither one of these bills are mine. I don’t control them,” Hoskins told the Post-Dispatch.
With the Senate unable to advance the bill, DeWitt said next year he would like voters to get involved.
With the Legislature busy trying to pass a budget and a crime bill, the sports betting legislation may fail to get passed for the second consecutive year.
“As of right now, I would say it’s very doubtful that sports book will pass in the state of Missouri this year,” Hoskins added.
DeWitt has shown his frustration regarding the legislation. He, along with the other professional sports teams in Missouri will make a final attempt to move lawmakers.
“I think there are a few things we may push on here at the end,” DeWitt told the Post-Dispatch. “We’re just so frustrated. It’s working against our fans and our citizens who overwhelmingly support it. We think that’s a good bill and we believe we have the votes in the Senate if it were to get to a vote,” he added.
If passed, the state’s 13 casinos could partner with a sports team to provide betting near the team’s facility.
“It unlocks a big sponsorship category for us,” DeWitt said.
