Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz said legalizing sports betting could remove one of the roadblocks to banning illegal slot machines that continue to proliferate in convenience stores and other businesses throughout the state.
Schatz said he plans to refile legislation banning the machines. “We will continue to pursue a ban on what I believe is illegal,” he stated.
Schatz’s comments follow the joint effort by the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis City soccer club and the Kansas City Royals to file proposed ballot language that would allow wagering on football, baseball, hockey, college sports and other games. “The initiative petition may take illegal slots out of the mix. It might unwind that a little bit,” Schatz said.
Currently, the proposed ballot initiatives are in the public comment stage; they have not yet been circulated for signatures. Placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot requires valid signatures from 8 percent of voters in six of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts.
The state legislature has debated legalizing sports betting numerous times in the past three years without passing any measures. Part of the gridlock is the result of opposition from Torch Electronics, which has placed the thousands of gambling machines across Missouri. Records show through November 2, Torch Electronics has contributed more than $240,000 to political action committees connected to former House Speaker Steve Tilley, a lobbyist for the company. Torch’s most recent donation was $20,000 to MO Majority PAC on October 27. Those PACs, in turn, distributed the money to lawmakers’ campaigns in an effort to encourage them not to ban the unregulated machines.
Local prosecutors have sued Torch, which is suing the state for harassment after the Missouri State Highway Patrol increased enforcement of state laws against illegal gambling.
