Four bills that seek to authorize and regulate sports betting in the state of Missouri have all advanced to the Missouri House of Representatives Emerging Issues Committee.
The collection of bills include House Bill 1024, which aims to authorize sports betting in Missouri. It allows both online and land-based sports betting, conducted through the state’s riverboat casinos, and was introduced to the House by Representative Cody Smith in February 2021.
The bill outlines several typical conditions for sports betting in Missouri, including the prohibition of any sports betting taking place outside of licensed premises and the disallowing of targeting minors and vulnerable people to place bets. It also specifies a 6.25% sports wagering revenue tax and that sports wagering platform operators must pay a $50,000 annual fee.
A second bill is House Bill 619, which aims to modify certain provisions in sports betting. The bill was introduced in January 2021 by Representative Wes Rodgers and outlines standard sports betting provisions, including how sports wagering facilities in Missouri can offer services over the internet.
Unlike House Bill 1364, this bill aims to have operators of sports wagering platforms pay a $10,000 annual platform fee. It also aims to impose a 6% tax rate on any sports wagering revenue generated.
Also advancing is House Bill 730, which also focuses on implementing provisions related to sports betting in Missouri.
First introduced by Representative Phil Christofanelli in January this year, the bill will impose a tax rate of 6.75% on sports wagering revenue and, like the other bills, allows both online and land-based betting. Operators must also pay an annual platform fee of $20,000.
Finally, House Bill 1364, introduced by Representative Dan Houx, puts forward regulations including that sports betting operators that receive $10,000 in bets from a person within 24 hours must keep certain information about the bettor on file for at least three years. Under this bill, licensees may have up to three online skins, with each other bill only allowing one skin.
It also specifies that those that operate interactive sports wagering platforms must pay an annual license renewal fee of $20,000, and that a tax rate of 6.75% applies to sports wagering revenue. If this bill is passed, the Missouri Commission must accept applications for interactive gaming licenses from July 1 2021, with license holders allowed to start operations from September 1 2021.
The Emerging Issues Committee typically deals with bills that involve ethics, public safety and utilities.
The Committee will consider each of these bills and, if passed, the bills will move to a floor vote and may then advance to the Senate.