Sports Betting

During the past two legislative sessions, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed bills legalizing sports betting in the state. However, its continued failure to advance in the Senate could lead to the issue being decided by voters instead.

The Missouri legislative session is more than halfway finished, and many bills affecting schools are making their way through the Capitol.

The bills now move to the House. Meanwhile, legalizing sports betting is stalled in the Senate.

Supporters have tried since 2018 to legalize sports betting in Missouri, but the issue has become linked with video gaming terminals, which operate in a legal gray area in the state.

Before leaving for spring break, Missouri House Republicans called the first part of this year’s session successful. How much gets done during the second half, however, depends on how well both chambers navigate divisive bills.

A Missouri Senate committee heard two bills on Wednesday that would legalize sports betting. While one addresses only sports gambling, another also allows the establishment of video gaming terminals.

The Warrensburg Republican has been in the middle of efforts to legalize sports betting and to allow businesses to have video lottery machines on their premises.

The Arnold Republican is about to begin her first term as a senator for Missouri’s 22nd District. Some of her priorities include how education funding is distributed and eliminating the sales tax on food.

Revenues continue to grow as professional sports maintain schedules and betting options increase.

Missouri lawmakers are considering the biggest expansion of gambling in the state since voters approved riverboat — and ultimately riverside — casinos three decades ago.