The legislative period in the state of Missouri is quickly coming to a close, but there is still over a month remaining. There are a number of big issues that are still on the table in the state, but sports betting is expected to continue to dominate the conversations.
Lawmakers in the “Show Me State” have been attempting to legalize sports betting since the federal ban was lifted, but not much progress has been made. There has always been one major sticking point in the negotiations, and that hurdle has been cleared.
The Senate has been the chamber that has killed sports betting in the past, and a sports betting bill is once again on the Senate floor. Political aspirations of a senator could help push the bill forward, but a decision on VLTs has been made as well.
Missouri Lawmakers Done With VLTs
Video lottery terminals were once extremely popular throughout the country, and that was the case in the state of Missouri as well. These VLTs were a major issue when it came to recent sports betting bills, as most lawmakers wanted to officially make those legal.
The Senate officially held a vote on legalizing those VLT machines, and it was shot down. Since that is now officially off of the table, lawmakers can solely focus on sports betting, and it’s important to find a way to increase revenue for the state.
Casinos and professional sports teams in the state are pushing for legal sports betting, and they have always opposed the VLT machines. Bars and restaurants that currently house those machines have wanted them to become legal, as they could be set to lose some revenue.
There was more than eight hours of debate centered around sports betting and VLT machines on Wednesday night, and the fact that sports betting wasn’t killed was a major positive. It does seem as if more and more senators are starting to back sports betting, especially when it comes to some of the biggest names.
Hoskins Starting to Give In
Senator Denny Hoskins is a man that tends to drive political decisions in the state of Missouri, and he has always been adamant that sports betting and VLTs have to be tied together. It was his amendment that died on the Senate floor on Wednesday, but he is still expected to support the sports betting movement.
After Hoskins is out of the Senate in 2024, he is going to be looking to run for a different office in the state. It’s becoming pretty clear that residents in Missouri want sports betting, and Hoskins is going to need the support of the voters.
There is still a long ways to go before any bill gets close to being passed, but it does seem like this is going to happen at some point.
Missouri Getting Left Behind
The fact that Missouri hasn’t passed a sports betting bill just continues to get worse as time drags on. Missouri is now surrounded by states with sports betting, and that includes some of the biggest markets in the entire United States.
Kentucky just agreed to legalize sports betting, and that’s another Midwest state that is going to be taking the leap. Kansas has seen sports betting success since the industry launched, and Missouri and Kansas share the city of Kansas City.
Missouri could become a huge sports betting market, but it’s going to take lawmakers to agree on a law before anything gets done.
