Missouri to Take Another Kick at the Legal Sports Betting Can in 2024

Missouri legislators wasted no time in reviving their efforts to legalize sports betting in the state, allowing residents to access some of the top sports betting sites available.

Following an unsuccessful effort in 2023, Senators Tony Leutkemeyer and Denny Hoskins have now introduced individual bills for legal sports betting in Missouri, following the demise of previous attempts in the state Senate.

Missouri lawmakers are making efforts with SB 852 and SB 824 to align the state with seven of its eight neighboring states, all of which have some form of legal sports betting in place. Only Oklahoma is without a way for its residents to access Missouri’s top sportsbooks within its own borders.

SB 852

Senator Tony Leutkemeyer is backing SB 852, the legal sports betting bill in Missouri. This is his second attempt at passing the bill after an unsuccessful try in 2023.

The Bill permits the state’s thriving riverboat casino industry to provide online sports betting services. Each riverboat operator will have the opportunity to collaborate with up to three online providers as outlined in the Bill. Additionally, the state’s professional sports teams, who have expressed strong backing for this initiative, will also be able to form partnerships with mobile sportsbook providers.

Every sports betting operator looking to enter the market must pay a $100,000 registration fee, which must be renewed every four years. The tax rate on gross gaming revenues would be set at 12%, making it a favorable rate for the industry.

Individuals who are 21 years old and above are eligible to open a legal sports betting account, allowing them to bet on a wide range of North America’s major sports such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL.

SB 852 would ban betting on high school and elementary sports as well as proposition bets on college sports teams from Missouri.

SB 824

Senator Denny Hoskins introduced SB 824 with the goal of legalizing mobile sports betting and introducing video lottery terminals in the state.

Also referred to as the “Missouri Veterans and Education Support Act,” SB 852 shares many similarities with the bill, including the list of sports and the exclusions that come with them.

The variances comprise a marginally reduced 10% tax rate and the previously mentioned connections to video lottery terminals.

The chances

Previous attempts to legalize sports betting in Missouri were unsuccessful, with the most recent efforts occurring in 2023 and 2022.

The backing for a legal Missouri sports betting platform has consistently existed. The Missouri Pro Sports Betting Coalition, comprising the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and the St. Louis Cardinals, has been steadfast in their advocacy for any proposal to introduce legal sports betting in the state.

There have already been four petitions submitted in hopes of having the issue decided by voters on the November 2024 election ballot.

Alternatively, research conducted by Associate Professor of Political Science at SLU, Steve Rogers, suggests that voters may not be enthusiastic about implementing such a platform in their state.

“Polling conducted last year revealed that only around 35% of likely voters in Missouri support the legalization of betting on professional and collegiate sports in the state,” Rogers stated. “A separate poll by Missouri Scout found that only about 26% of Missourians are in favor of this idea.”

Missouri bettors and supporters of legal sports wagering are currently in a “wait and see” mode. With 37 states, including seven bordering Missouri, already allowing legal wagers and reaping financial rewards, there is a possibility that 2024 could be a significant year for those advocating for legal sports wagering in the state.