A Missouri House committee cleared the way for two plans to legalize sports betting to move to the House floor.
Proposed by Rep. Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage, and Rep. Phil Christofanelli, a St. Peters Republican, each bill would set up similar regulations for sports betting, both online and in casinos.
The committee voted 9-0 to pass Smith’s bill after voting down three amendments and voted 8-1 to pass Christofanelli’s. Sports leagues leaned towards Smith’s bill, while the casino industry favored Christofanelli’s.
Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat from St. Louis, proposed raising the tax on Smith’s bill from 9 to 15 percent, citing stats from the National Conference on State Legislatures that the average tax rate is close to 20 percent.
The committee rejected Merideth’s amendment, and Kansas City Democrat Jon Carpenter proposed a compromise of 12 percent, which was also rejected.
In both bills, sportsbooks, or places where bets may be made, would pay the tax, not the bettor.
Merideth also proposed adding a referendum clause to Smith’s bill so voters would decide whether the state legalizes sports betting. “A step like this, that takes the one type of gambling that is completely illegal and not only makes it legal but then makes it more accessible than any other type of gambling, is something we ought to send to the voters,” he said.
The committee rejected the referendum clause. Christofanelli said such a move wouldn’t be needed, because the legislature exists to meet the will of the people.
Industry groups focused on any requirement to use official league data, something various leagues prefer. Casinos called it a cash grab.
