The Missouri Sports Betting Coalition submitted ballot proposals over the summer and now the language has been approved.
They must collect 170,000 signatures from residents of Missouri by May 5th to get their measure in front of the voters in November. Let’s see what this process might represent to several industries, including online sportsbooks.
Play It Again
The subject of sports betting in Missouri is like a political version of whack-a-mole. No matter how many proposals pop up, Senator Denny Hoskins is there to make sure he smashes them back down.
But it appears as though Hoskins will have to grab his paddle again. The Missouri Sports Betting Coalition is not going away. They will try to get this before the voters as long as they can collect the 170,000 signatures required.
“I believe that once again we’ll see the House advance a bill to the Senate,” one source said. “However, given the ongoing confusion and dysfunction on this issue within that body, there’s a better chance of the Carolina Panthers winning the Super Bowl than the Governor signing a sports bill in Missouri.”
Sports Franchise Owners Unite
St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III is the primary mover and shaker for sports betting in the Show Me State but he has plenty of company. The owners of the other professional sports franchises like the St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis CITY SC, and the Kansas City Current also want the revenue stream enjoyed by other pro sports teams in states where sports betting is legal.
Because the previous iterations of a sports betting bill have passed the House but died in the Senate, thanks to Senator Hoskins, DeWitt has decided an alternative course of action like getting the issue before the voters is the only choice he has left.
“Therefore, as we are not optimistic that this pattern will change during the upcoming legislative session, we are currently proceeding with an initiative petition campaign to put the issue of legalized sports wagering on the ballot for Missouri voters in 2024, and, beginning this week, we are launching our campaign and will be collecting signatures to support this initiative petition,” he said.
Why the Hate Hoskins?
Senator Denny Hoskins is no friend of sports betting. But he’s only as intractable as those opposing his own legislation to get gray machines legalized in Missouri. It’s a quid pro quo situation but neither side is giving an inch.
Bill DeWitt was asked about this end-around approach of bringing this topic to the people instead of through the legislation. He said, “We don’t think Denny is serious. The door for negotiation is always open. But when you insist on doing the business of Illinois gray-machine companies, it makes it tough.”
The gray machines are not technically legal but neither are they illegal. They are a common sight in truck stops and barrooms across the state. Thus, the nickname for the video lottery terminals (VLTs) that Hoskins would like to get legalized so they can be taxed and the state could get the revenue that comes with it.
The machines are remarkably similar to slot machines but a little too similar. Which is why the casino companies want them outlawed. This is where the political schism occurs. Politicians get donations from casino operators while others, like Hoskins, have seen donations from the VLT manufacturers and distributors.
Hoskins has repeatedly stated he is not averse to sports betting but he wants to tie any bill in with the legalization of the gray machines. That’s been a non-starter in the past. Which is why Hoskins remains the primary obstacle to blocking sports betting in Missouri.
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