JEFFERSON CITY — A plan backed by Missouri’s professional sports teams to legalize betting on games advanced to the full House Wednesday.
The measure, a combined effort of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals, the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues, the ºüÀêÊÓƵ City soccer club and their pro counterparts in Kansas City, could bring in more than $96 million in revenue to the state and another $10.8 million to local governments.
After years of falling short, the proposal emerged from the House Special Committee on Public Policy on a 4-2 vote.
Under the plan, each of Missouri’s 13 casinos could offer wagering on sports, including college sports, while the teams also could offer betting at their stadiums through partnerships with sports betting websites like FanDuel and DraftKings.
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The revenue estimates are based on fees paid by the teams and companies and a 10% tax rate on bets.
Rep. , R-Neosho, added an amendment barring betting on high school athletic events.
“We don’t need any more drama at high school games than we already have,†Baker said.
But the expansion will mean higher costs for treating gambling problems.
According to a fiscal analysis, the Missouri Department of Mental Health estimates the current number of compulsive gamblers served by the state will triple, from about 71 people to 213.
The average cost to treat problem gamblers is $1,230, meaning it will cost about $262,000 if the plan is approved.
The department also would have to bump up the number of counselors it employs to 31, up from the current 11.
Rep. , R-Shell Knob, said he is concerned that compulsive gambling could become a problem.
“We are getting ready to potentially open up wagering on electronic devices. This is something that I think it potentially could become a larger issue. We need to be aware of that, and as a state, we need to be ready to address some of the issues that may arise from it,†Cupps said.
Rep. , R-Warrensville, who is sponsoring the measure, said the plan will ensure a steady stream of money for treating problem gambling via a tax paid by the casinos and teams.
The proposal was put on a fast track in January, when Missouri’s pro sports teams and representatives of its gambling casinos announced they had reached an agreement to lobby together to have the state join 32 others, including Illinois, that have legalized wagering on competitive events.
Cupps, who is chairman of the House Special Committee on Public Policy, said expanding gambling will bring in big money to the teams, casinos and betting platforms.
“Each one of these licenses is going to be like a golden ticket,†said Cupps, who voted “present†on the bill.
Cupps wants to see a percentage of taxes distributed to counties where bets are placed in order to ensure some of the proceeds filter back to rural counties.
The effort has been stalled in the Legislature for four years over disagreements on how to rid the state of unregulated, illegal slot machines that have flooded gas stations, truck stops and bars in recent years.
Supporters of legalizing video lottery terminals or VLTs are being told they need to work on that effort alone.
“To have this legislation stand on its own, with VLTs debated on a separate track, we feel that we have the best chance of getting something done this year,†Cardinals President William DeWitt III told the committee last week.
Until a 2018 court case, full-scale sports betting was illegal in all states except Nevada. Some states moved quickly to get sports betting and its tax proceeds on the books. Illinois legalized it in June 2019.
Supporters of the legislation say there is ample proof that Missourians are already betting or trying to bet on sports.
GeoComply, which tracks the location of smartphone transactions, found that over Super Bowl weekend, 69,372 attempts were made by Missourians to access betting options in other states, primarily Illinois.
Those requests were blocked.
In addition, casinos in Illinois where betting is offered showed high numbers of bets in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ metropolitan area, suggesting that Missourians crossed the Mississippi River to cast bets.
The legislation is .
Originally posted at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, March 2.Â