First of Several Missouri Sports Betting Bills Now Assigned to Senate Committee

• A Bill to Legalize Sports Betting in Missouri Has Been Assigned to a Senate Committee 
• The Bill – SB 764 – is One of Several Proposed Sports Betting Bills in Missouri
• Four of Missouri’s Eight Neighbors Already Offer Legal Sports Gambling to Residents

A Bill to Legalize Sports Betting in Missouri Has Been Assigned to a Senate Committee

Missouri is one of the remaining states that have yet to legalize sports gambling for their residents, but that could change soon given the number of sports betting bills that are being introduced to the MO state legislature which has been in session since January 5, 2022.

Front and center now is Senate Bill 764 (SB 764), a sports betting bill introduced by state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, that has gained some forward momentum after having been assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee following the reading of the bill to the legislative body.

Were SB 764 to be signed into law by Missouri’s Republican Governor, Mike Parson, sports betting would become legal, and wagers could be placed in person and online or on a mobile device subject to geofencing restrictions that ensure bettors are physically located in the Show-Me State.

It would seem that Luetkemeyer understands the reality of the Missouri sports gambling scene, currently, a pseudo black market that involves resident punters spending their betting money elsewhere, the state senator telling the press:

We’re increasingly seeing people in the state of Missouri who are leaving and going to those other states to place sportsbook bets, and that means we’re seeing money and tax revenue leave the state, money that would ordinarily go to schools.

Other Missouri lawmakers apparently agree as multiple sports betting bills are being created and introduced to the legislature this session.

The Bill – SB 764 – is One of Several Proposed Sports Betting Bills in Missouri

When the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA back in May 2018, every state in the US was then permitted to decide whether they wanted to create their own sports gaming market for residents and created a new tax revenue flow that could benefit those who live there.

Since the Missouri legislative session began on January 5, at least four bills (including SB 764) related to legalizing the sports betting market in Missouri have been introduced and proposed to the chamber.

In addition to SB 764, a different bill was pre-filed and read twice last week in the House of Representatives, and two other senate bills were given the first reading, but none of those other three have been assigned to a committee yet.

Of course, the longer Missouri lawmakers stall on this controversial issue, the more certain neighboring states benefit.

Four of Missouri’s Eight Neighbors Already Offer Legal Sports Gambling to Residents

Over half the states in the US have already created their own legal sports betting market and included in that list are four of Missouri’s closest neighbors – Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas – those four bordering states often the gambling destination of Missouri bettors looking to place a sports wager.

With a legal sports betting market launched in the state, Missouri bettors would spend that money closer to home either at one of the 13 licensed casinos in the state or by using the mobile option from the comfort of their couches.

It’s an exciting possibility that could mean millions of new tax dollars that would benefit Mother of the West students, so keep checking back for more updates and details as Missouri gradually enters the sports betting world.