Representative Crystal Quade, the minority floor leader, drafted a sports betting bill, HB 2835, and presented it at a public hearing of the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology last week.
Better Late Than Never
House Bill 2835 is a compromise bill by Representative Crystal Quade that ties sports betting to video lottery terminals (VLTs). However, this has been done before without success. Some factions want sports betting without VLT legalization while others are insistent the two must go hand-in-hand in any piece of legislation.
The prospect of getting a compromise on this issue is unlikely but when factoring in its late arrival to a legislative session ending on May 15th, the chances of this passing are slim and none. Nevertheless, Representative Quade believes it is worth the effort and is hoping she can get this in under the finish line.
“What I tried to do with this bill is to come up with a different approach than the other bills that have been filed over the years and merge these together and redefine or create a new definition for these games,” Quade said.
Quade’s bill would allow communities to ban VLTs on a case-by-case basis. Although there are some nuanced differences between Quade’s bill and Hoskins’ previous legislative attempts, the fact that VLTs would be legalized and licensed under her bill is a non-starter for casino operators who wield considerable political clout in the Missouri legislature.
Missouri Pro Sports Teams Play Hardball
Winning for Missouri Education is a coalition formed by the state’s six professional sports teams including the Cardinals, Royals, Chiefs, Blues, Current and City FC. Its goal is to circumvent the deadlocked legislature by bringing the question to Missourians and allowing them to decide on a ballot referendum in November.
But to do this, the organization had to get a minimum of 180,000 verified signatures of Missouri residents to the Secretary of State’s office by May 5th. That appears to be a fait accompli as it has been rumored the organization has over 300,000 signatures, although not yet verified by the state.
The revenue that retail and mobile sports betting would bring to the state would benefit not only education in Missouri but also the teams themselves. Online sportsbooks pay millions of dollars in sponsorships to be allied with professional sports franchises which is why all six teams have decided on this circuitous route.
The Great Debate
The Missouri legislature has been embroiled in an unbreakable stalemate regarding the legalization of sports betting and video lottery terminals. Few are adamantly opposed to sports betting, including the state senator who has derailed the process for several years.
Denny Hoskins is that senator and he has been intractable in his demands that the legalization of VLTs be tied to any sports betting bill. The issue is that the state’s casinos are vehemently opposed to the slot-style gaming machines that dot the Missouri landscape in truck stops, barrooms, convenience stores and private clubs.
The casino owners point out that there is no discernible difference between VLTs and the slot machines found in their casinos. However, the convenience of visiting a local establishment that offers these machines is, according to them, cannibalizing their business. They argue that the capital investment in their gaming properties, as well as the taxes they pay and the jobs they create, are in jeopardy because of the proliferation of VLTs.
Many Missouri legislators agree but there is a faction that stands behind the VLT manufacturers and their advocate in the legislature, Senator Denny Hoskins. The senator filed a sports betting bill a few years ago but naturally tied the legalization of VLTs with the bill that was ultimately voted down. He has not forgotten and has vowed to be an “obstructionist” unless his demands are met.
Should all else fail, Hoskins’ term will end in 2025, which leaves an opening for civil compromise to get sports betting passed in the Show Me State.
