The Show Me state wants to show that it can compete in the legalized sports betting marketplace like the states that border Missouri.
To achieve that goal in 2021, three state senators have introduced separate bills. Supporters say legalization could net the state almost $50 million, which would go to education, according to Ozarks First.
“I believe if you want to make a bet on the Kansas City Chiefs or St. Louis Cardinals or Kansas City Royals or St. Louis Blues or the University of Missouri’s football or basketball team, that you should be able to place that bet,” said one of the bill sponsors Senator Denny Hoskins, who pre-filed SB 18 this month. “My bill would simply allow sports betting and sportsbook here in the state either at a casino or either online on your phone using an app like William Hill.”
Senator Tony Luetkemeyer said a lot of people leave the state to place a bet. He introduced a similar bill to Hoskins, SB 217, with added protections.
“We want to make sure that any casinos or any other licensees that are doing lawful sports betting, that they are using the same data for person to person from casino to casino, so there’s no inconsistency in the way that these bets are being awarded,” Luetkemeyer said. “We’re going to be entering a budgetary year where things may be a little uncertain because of Covid-19 and the impact that’s going to have on the state budget, and obviously Medicaid expansion passed on the ballot earlier this year,” Luetkemeyer said.
The third betting bill, SB 256, comes from Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden.
All three bills will include an application fee, a tax, and a licensing fee.
Along with a 9 percent tax, Hoskins bill charges a $25,000 application fee, a $50,000 annual licensing fee, with $10,000 every five years… Under SB 18, the Missouri Gaming Commission would receive $10,000 from license holders every five years. Hoskins also included a royalty fee of 0.25 percent of the handle which goes to pro leagues, the NCAA, as well as the governing boards of from other sports.
With Luetkemeyer’s bill, operators pay $10,000 for an application fee, a 6.25 percent tax—lowest in the country—a $5,000 annual fee with a $10,000 for the Missouri Gaming Commission every five years. If passed, the proposal would exclude college player bets. A maximum of 13 betting licenses would be available on the market, according to Gambling News.
Rowden’s legislation comes with a $50,000 application fee, a tax of 6.5 percent and a $20,000 annual operation fee. The bill would also permit governing bodies to restrain or exclude betting in some situations, but also permit college prop bets. No royalty or league data fees, according to WSN.
