Missouri Sports Betting Runs into Another Road Block

Show-Me State voters voted to legalize sports betting, but one lawmaker doesn’t seem to care.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has rejected a proposal to launch emergency rules for sports betting by June. Hoskins stated he did not believe the issue rose to the level of an “emergency,” so the attempt was unnecessary. The rejection's reasoning makes sense, but many proponents don’t buy it.

Hoskins was why Missouri failed to pass sports betting legislation before the recent ballot initiative. One of his largest donors and supporters has been pushing to legalize Video Lottery Terminals (VLT), a controversial new form of gambling. As a result, the lawmaker killed every bill to legalize the industry that didn’t include the VLTs.

The efforts to stop legalization led to proponents going around him with a ballot initiative that let the voters decide. Despite the result, Hoskins may not be ready to give up his fight.

The state is required to launch sports betting before December 1. A new bill or ballot initiative must go live if that date is missed. 

Stall Tactic or Responsible Ruling?

Proponents of the industry have been vocal about the Secretary of State’s attachment to VLTs, but that doesn’t make it the only concern.

The request for an emergency to set up the industry shows the state is eager to get up and running. However, Missouri typically declares those when the health or safety of their residents is in danger. Given the startling rise in problem gambling, the industry will cause harm to some residents who struggle with gambling addiction.

We are now left with questions about the true motive behind rejecting the emergency. Is this a local lawmaker trying to do the right thing, or is it another attempt to kill the industry?