A third Missouri sports betting bill was filed last week, this one calling for a 6.75 percent tax rate and allowing for mobile sports betting throughout the Show-Me state. Senator Lincoln Hough (R-District 30) SB 222 was filed on Jan. 7, had a first reading on Jan. 9 and is now waiting for a committee assignment.
Missouri lawmakers clearly have sports betting on their minds. Senator Denny Hoskins (R-District 21) was the first to file in early December. His bill calls for a fee similar to the “integrity fee” the professional leagues were seeking, however, funds would not go to the leagues but to the state for use in maintaining and building sports venues. Representative Cody Smith (R-District 163) followed with a second bill shortly after, and his indeed calls for a one percent fee to be paid to the professional leagues and the NCAA — despite the fact that league lobbyists and officials are now asking only one quarter of one percent from wagers off the top.
Hough’s bill calls for no such fee.
Missouri actively discussed sports betting in the 2018 session, but none of the bills made it to vote in either chamber. So far, sports betting does not appear to have bi-partisan backing in Missouri, as all three bills that have been filed, have been filed by Republicans.
Below is a look at the highlights of Hough’s bill:
Mobile betting? Would be allowed.
In-person registration required? Not addressed.
Tax rate: 6.75 percent of adjusted gross revenue.
Application/renewal fee: $10,000 application fee, plus $5,000 annual renewal fee, $5,000 annual administration fee, and $10,000 every five years for “re-invesigation” of licensee.
Legal to bet on college games: Not addressed.
Fee or royalty or compensationto pro leagues: No.
Use of “official league data” mandated?: No.
Regulatory body: Missouri Gaming Commission.
Where the money goes: Earmarked for the “Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund”
Cap on number of licenses available? No.
There’s now multiple bills on the table, none of which apparently have more momentum than any other.
