Missouri Sports Betting Legislation Efforts in 2021
Missouri will take up legislation to authorize sports betting once again in 2021. Three senators have prefiled sports betting bills this month in anticipation of making another push early next year.
Missouri appeared to be on the path to legalizing sports betting early this year, but COVID-19 disrupted the legislative schedule and distracted lawmakers who turned their attention to more pressing matters. 2020 came and went without a successful push, but lawmakers will take up the issue once again in the new year.
When the legislature reconvenes in 2021, lawmakers will have three bills ready for consideration. All three bills would authorize online sports betting in Missouri, but lawmakers will need to hammer out important details regarding integrity fees and official data mandates.
Here’s a look at each of the three bills the legislature will be taking up early next year.
SB 256
Senator Caleb Rowden prefiled SB 256 on December 2nd.
SB 256 appears to be the most industry-friendly of the three. It would permit Missouri casinos to operate retail sportsbooks and mobile betting platforms under a reasonable tax and fee structure. Regulatory authority would fall to the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Key points from the bill:
- Authorizes retail sportsbooks at casinos and mobile sports betting
- Casinos to pay $50,000 application fee; $20,000 annual administrative fee
- Casinos may partner with third party operators to conduct statewide mobile betting
- Online betting platform providers to pay $50,000 application fee; $20,000 annual renewal fee
- Sports governing bodies may petition the Missouri Gaming Commission to restrict certain types of wagers if they can demonstrate such bets present a credible threat to the integrity of sports wagering
- Establishes a tax rate of 6.75% on sports betting
SB 18
Senator Denny Hoskins prefiled SB 18 on December 1st.
Senator Hoskins’ bill would also authorize retail sportsbooks and mobile betting but provides additional concessions that would benefit the leagues.
Key points from SB 18:
- Authorizes retail sportsbooks at casinos and mobile betting
- Casinos may apply for sports betting licenses from the Missouri Gaming Commission
- Casinos to pay $25,000 application fee; $50,000 annual administrative fee
- Online betting platform providers may apply for licenses to offer mobile betting on behalf of casinos
- Mobile betting providers to pay $25,000 application fee; $50,000 annual renewal fee
- Sports leagues may request the Commission to restrict certain types of leagues
- Sports leagues may require operators to rely on official data purchased from the leagues for settling in-play wagers
- Casinos licensed to offer sports betting must pay a 0.25% royalty fee to the sports leagues
- Establishes a sports betting tax rate of 9%
SB 217
Senator Tony Luetkemeyer prefiled SB 217 on December 1st.
His bill mostly resembles one he introduced last year, SB 754. The 2020 version calls for the same tax rate and licensing fees but does not include the 0.75% royalty fee suggested in last year’s proposal.
Key points from SB 217:
- Authorizes retail sportsbooks at casinos and mobile betting
- Casinos may partner with third-party platform providers to offer statewide mobile betting
- Casinos to pay $10,000 application fee; $5,000 annual administrative fee
- Online betting platform providers to pay $10,000 application fee; $5,000 annual renewal fee
- Sports leagues may require operators to rely on official data for settling in-play wagers
- Sportsbooks may not accept prop bets on any collegiate sports event or on the individual performances of college players
- Establishes a sports betting tax rate of 6.25%
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.
