Four bills that would authorize and regulate sports betting in Missouri all recently advanced to the House of Representatives Emerging Issues Committee, which deals with bills involving ethics, public safety and utilities. Any of the bills that pass will move to the Senate and ultimately a floor vote.
House Bill 1024, sponsored by state Rep. Cody Smith, would authorize online and land-based sports betting through the state’s casinos. The bill would prohibit any sports betting taking place outside of licensed premises and as well as targeting minors and vulnerable people to place bets. It would tax wagering revenue at 6.25 percent and charge sports betting platform operators an annual fee of $50,000.
House Bill 619, introduced in January by state Rep. Wes Rodgers would modify certain provisions regarding sports betting. It would charge sports betting platform operators an annual fee of $10,000 and would tax sports wagering revenue at 6 percent.
House Bill 730, introduced by state Rep. Phil Christofanelli, the measure would allow online and land-based wagering. It would impose a tax rate of 6.75 percent on sports betting revenue and charge platform operators an annual fee of $20,000.
And House Bill 1364, introduced by state Rep. Dan Houx, includes a variety of regulations. One would require operators to keep for at least three years information about bettors who wager $10,000 in 24 hours. The bill also would allow licensees to have up to three online skins; the other bills allow only one skin. Houx’s measure also states operators of interactive sports wagering platforms must pay an annual license renewal fee of $20,000, and that sports wagering revenue would be taxed at 6.75 percent.
If this bill passes, it directs the Missouri Gaming Commission to take applications for gaming licenses starting July 1, 2021, with license holders allowed to start operations on September 1, 2021.
