For the primary time this session, Missouri senators heard testimony Wednesday on laws that will legalize sports activities betting.

Among these in help of the payments had been representatives of all six of Missouri’s skilled sports activities groups.

Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, mentioned the workforce is in favor of legalizing sports activities betting and needs to get it carried out.

“One of the downsides of the delay of several years here is that fans haven’t been able to do it,” DeWitt mentioned. “However, one of the good sides is that we’ve learned from other states. We’ve learned how to tweak this to make it more reflective of the market that’s out there.”

Of the 2 payments legalizing sports activities betting heard Wednesday, one among them addresses solely sports activities betting, whereas the opposite combines that language with different laws authorizing video lottery terminals referred to as VLTs.

DeWitt mentioned he helps the sports activities wagering part of the invoice, however mentioned sports activities groups are “pretty agnostic” on the video gaming terminal language.

“I think our position is that we’d like to see the two issues bifurcated. But in this one, they’re together, so that’s a political calculation,” DeWitt mentioned.

Sports betting would solely be allowed in Missouri’s casinos or on-line for folks bodily positioned within the state.

Additionally, the invoice establishes districts, the place betting may happen on-line, in areas surrounding the stadiums the place skilled sports activities groups play their dwelling video games, like Busch Stadium or the Enterprise Center. Sports groups would have larger authority on cellular betting in these districts.

“Legalized sports betting comes with natural challenges, so it is critical that we adopt a framework that provides strong regulations and oversight to protect consumers and also to benefit the state’s educational system,” mentioned the invoice’s sponsor, Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer R-Parkville.

The invoice imposes a ten% tax on sports activities bets. Revenue from that tax should go into the Gaming Proceeds for Education fund.

Under the invoice, the Missouri General Assembly would additionally should acceptable a minimum of $500,000 yearly from the Gaming Commission Fund to the Compulsive Gamblers Fund.

Missouri’s casinos are additionally largely in help of the invoice. Mike Winter, with the Missouri Gaming Association, talked about the current Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs.

“We saw how many bets were attempted to be placed from the stadium during the final home game, that it shows you the interest [from] Missourians and those who attend sporting events and their desire to have the ability to place wagers on these activities,” Winter mentioned.

Of the eight states surrounding Missouri, Oklahoma and Kentucky are the one different states that haven’t legalized sports activities betting.

A Missouri House Committee is about to vote by itself set of sports activities betting payments on Thursday.

Video lottery terminals

The invoice launched by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, has comparable language within the sports-betting part, although his invoice does require a minimum of $5 million to be deposited yearly into the Compulsive Gamblers Fund.

However, his invoice would additionally authorize using video lottery terminals within the state.

“I’ve had bills that were just sportsbook only. I’ve had bills that were VLTs only. I’ve had bills that were just dealing with the gray gaming market, but nothing has made it across the finish line. It’s time to get something done,” Hoskins mentioned.

Currently, machines are everywhere in the state in areas like truck stops however are unregulated and unlawful, though hardly ever enforced.

Hoskins’ invoice permits for veterans organizations, truck stops, fraternal organizations, as properly companies licensed to promote liquor by the drink to have the machines.

Truck stops, veterans organizations and fraternal organizations can be allowed to function eight machines, whereas different companies like eating places and bars would be capable to have 5.

The laws additionally locations limits on bets, the place probably the most somebody may guess can be $5 per recreation. Only folks 21 and older can be allowed to make use of the machines.

Advocates for the gaming terminal portion of the invoice included a number of enterprise homeowners who mentioned they may profit from the extra income.

However, that portion of the invoice doesn’t have the help of Missouri’s casinos.

“We need an even playing field. There is nothing in this bill that puts the VLT slot machines on an even playing field with the existing slot machines and reserved casinos.” Winter mentioned.

Sen. Karla May, who offered her personal invoice authorizing video lottery terminals, spoke in help of Hoskins’ language, saying they’d be a recreation changer for small companies.

“We get big people who want sports betting. Well, we need VLTs, too, because we need small businesses to be able to compete with all of that,” May mentioned.

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