MISSOURI SPORTS BETTING

Missouri To Consider Sports Betting Early In 2022

After years and years of debating could Missouri lawmakers finally agree on the framework to allow sports betting in the state early next year? So far five Republican representatives are supporting bills or are introducing bills to be on the slate for debate in early January 2022.

The Missouri General Assembly convenes early in January and legislators will push for the introduction of a bill to expand on the current 13 riverboat casinos that are allowed in the state. Lawmakers this time feel that they are losing out on much needed state income from sports betting as four of the eight states Missouri border allow sports betting and certainly their local citizens gamble on sports there instead of its own state say supporters.

Indeed Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas all offer sports betting and a fifth Nebraska will allow sports betting possible before the end of this year.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly has argued about introducing sports betting since 2018 when the Supreme Court allowed for other states to offer sports betting but never agreed on the terms for allowing the activity. But now with projections of $20 million a year in gambling tax revenues from sports betting this may change for 2022 and with the Missouri Constitution mandating that all gambling tax going to state education it could be a winner this time around.

Lawmakers want a low licensing fee for sports betting around $50,000 which would be one of the lowest in the US and a 6.8% tax on sports betting gross gaming revenue which again would be one of the most favourable for operators in the country.