When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >

Missouri Sports Betting Issue Likely Not Included in Governor’s Special Sessions

Written by: Mike Lukas
Updated October 14, 2022
10 min read
  • MO Governor Mike Parson Says Sports Betting Cannot be Voted on in Special Sessions
  • State Rep. Dan Houx has Filed Sports Betting Legislation to Keep That Topic Relevant
  • Odds Are Legal Sports Betting Talks in Missouri Won’t Happen Until 2023
Missouri Sports Betting Issue

MO Governor Mike Parson Says Sports Betting Cannot be Voted on in Special Sessions

As Missouri gamblers continue to watch their Kansan neighbors place legal sports bets ever since that market launched at the start of September, a tiny spark of hope was ignited when Governor Mike Parson announced that he would soon be holding special legislative sessions.

The way it works in Missouri is that when necessary these special legislative sessions can be called by the Governor if he feels something critical needs to be handled during the time when lawmakers are off, and he gets to pick the topic and this time it’s to settle some tax issues.

Sadly for Show Me State bettors, though, the Governor’s spokesperson, Kelli Jones, has made it perfectly clear to the local news media there that there will be no other topics discussed and no voting permitted on the sports betting issue at any of those special sessions, saying:

Sports betting is clearly beyond the call and does not relate to Governor Parson’s topics in the call. I do not anticipate sports betting being a part of special session.

That hasn’t stopped one state lawmaker from still giving it a legitimate try.

State Rep. Dan Houx has Filed Sports Betting Legislation to Keep That Topic Relevant

The newish legal sports betting market in the US has only been around since May 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned PASPA thereby allowing each state to decide if they want to legalize, regulate, and tax their own sports betting market for residents.

Since then, over 30 states and DC have launched some form of legal sports betting and those new markets have generated a multi-billion dollar annual handle in that time, and now Missouri’s closest neighbor Kansas is a part of all that action, and Show Me State leaders are taking notice.

In fact, in an effort to keep that issue alive in Missouri, state Rep. Dan Houx, a longtime advocate of bringing legal sports betting to his gambling constituents, just introduced a legal sports gambling bill, House Bill 4, hoping it might make it into an upcoming special session.

It’s definitely to keep [the legal sports betting issue] in the forefront, to show Missourians at least the House is trying to do everything that we promised them we’ll do.

Rep. Houx probably understands that his sports betting bill will not get voted on during the Governor’s upcoming special sessions, but his efforts are keeping the controversial issue in the weekly headlines.

Were H.B. 4 to become law, it would allow for a retail and mobile market in Missouri, essentially similar to what was proposed earlier this year in a bill that passed through the House but was turned down by the Senate, though this new bill increases the tax rate from 8% up to 10%.

It’s a tempting money maker that most likely won’t be discussed in Missouri until 2023 when the next regular legislative session will be held.

Meanwhile, legislators are permitted to pre-file their bills starting in December, so expect Rep. Houx to put his H.B. 4 into the mix as Kansas continues to rake in millions of legal sports betting bucks right next store.

Keep checking back for all the latest news and updates on this ongoing story.

Follow other states for updates on betting legislation

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Oregon?

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Oregon?

24 October, 2022 | Richard Janvrin
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?

19 December, 2022 | Richard Janvrin
Image for Mike Lukas

AUTHOR

Mike Lukas

1205 Articles

Mike Lukas is a retired standup comedian turned freelance writer now living in Dallas, Texas, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. His love for the game of football and all things Cleveland Browns turned Mike into a pro blogger years ago. Now Mike enjoys writing about all thirty-two NFL teams, hoping to help football gamblers gain a slight edge in their pursuit of the perfect wager. Email: [email protected]

More info on Mike Lukas
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork

© Rebel Penguin ApS 2024 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)

We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.

WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID 89744, with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number 117656-1, possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, an interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director of Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a Vendor Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.

Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various sportsbooks.