MISSOURI LAWMAKER TAKES UP ISSUE OF LEGAL SPORTS BETTING

Dave Schwab Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

As 2021 comes to a close, the New Year offers a chance for new beginnings. One Missouri lawmaker is using this window to address legal sports betting in his state.

State Representative Phil Christofanelli has recently filed House Bill 1666. This is the first piece of legislation for the 2022 session geared towards legalized sports betting in Missouri.

The wording of this bill is very similar to previous efforts by Senate Majority Leader Cal Rowden. Under its provisions, both retail and online sports betting would be legalized. It would tether the operation of sportsbooks to the state’s existing network of riverboat casinos.

Going back to the 2021 state legislative session, lawmakers introduced as many as 10 different bills on the matter of legal sports betting. Proponents of the change in law remain confident that legislation can be pushed through this time around.

HR 1666 would establish a flat tax rate of 6.75% on sports betting revenue. The application fee for a sportsbook license would be set at $50,000. The annual renewal fee on that license would be $40,000.

The Missouri Gaming Commission would be the regulatory body overseeing the industry. There is also a provision covering the ability to request a ban on certain types of wagering.

Under the proposed legislation, riverboat casinos would receive sports betting licenses for their facilities. Online operating partners would be able to apply for an interactive sports platform license.

Current law gives casino operators the ability to locate gaming venues on dry land. They must be located at least 1,000 feet from the Mississippi River or the Missouri River. There is a state-wide cap of 13 for this form of a casino gaming license.

The new legislative session in Missouri begins on Jan. 5 of 2022. HB 1666 is expected to be just one of multiple sports betting bills on the agenda. The pre-filing period for submitting new bills started on Dec. 1.

While the support for legal sports betting is strong, industry visions still differ. Some state lawmakers are pushing for legal video lottery terminals (VLT’s) in conjunction with legal betting on sports.

State Rep. Dan Shaul has already noted plans to file a bill that would legalize VLT’s and sports betting at the same time. He believes the potential tax revenue from both could reach $400 million.

The fact that a trio of neighboring states (Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee) are already offering legal sports betting is also moving things forward.

Adding to the favorable conditions are the state’s professional sports teams. The MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals along with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues have all indicated their support as a way to boost fan engagement.

Written by Dave Schwab, our US Sports Betting Industry Expert. You can learn more about our author's expertise here.

Dave Schwab

Dave Schwab has been covering the sports betting industry for the past 12 years as the main focus of his specialty marketing company for online content. This endeavor followed a previous career in the field of sales and marketing in the wholesaling sector.Most of his weekly pieces focus on the rapidly expanding legal US sports betting industry. However, he still does extensive work covering betting angles that can provide a competitive edge to avid players. Dave believes that it is always a challenge to take past results and current form to try and correctly determine a future result. Sports brings out the unpredictability in what should be a fairly predictable outcome based on the stats, facts and recent trends in a particular matchup. More from Dave Schwab