Missouri: Sports betting set for legalisation in 2021

Three senators have proposed different bills, all legalising mobile sports betting in 2021

Missouri already has some form of gambling available, with a couple of riverboat casinos holding betting licenses and some approved fantasy sports wagering companies, and eversince 2018, many Supreme Court hearings addressed bills requesting to expand the industry into online gambling for sports betting and casino games. In 2019, two more bills were added and many punters expected to see some online gambling action. However, due to the pandemic, procedures were disrupted as lawmakers had more crucial matters to attend to.

Fortunately, the year of 2021 will see the state of Missouri legalise sports betting. Three senators have proposed different bills, all legalising mobile sports betting, allowing legal retail and online sportsbook.

In addition to the legalisation of sports betting, the following are the main points from the three different bills.

SB 256 – Senator Caleb Rowden

– Casinos and online betting platform providers both pay a $50,000 application fee
– Casinos permitted to partner with third party operators to conduct statewide mobile betting
– Sports governing bodies will be able to petition the Missouri Gaming Commission to restrict certain wagers which could pose as a threat to sports betting integrity.
– Casinos pay $20,000 annual administrative fee; Online betting platform pays $20,000 annual renewal fee
– Tax rate of 6.75% on sports betting

SB 18 – Senator Denny Hoskins

– Casinos can apply for sports betting licences from Missouri Gaming Commission
– The application fee for casinos and mobile betting providers is halved to $25,000
– Casinos pay $50,000 annual administrative fee; Mobile betting providers $50,000 annual renewal fee
– Online betting platform providers may apply for licences to offer mobile betting on behalf of casinos
– The Commission may receive requests from sports leagues to restrict certain types of leagues
– Certificate holders shall only use official league data to determine the results of in-play wagers
– Sports betting tax rate of 9%

SB 217 – Tony Luetkemeyer

– Third party platform providers and casinos may engage in a partnership to offer mobile betting statewide
– Casinos pay $10,000 application fee; $5,000 annual administrative fee
– Online betting platforms pay an application fee of $10,000; $5,000 annual fee
– Certificate holders shall use official league data to determine results of tier two wagers (in-play wagers)
– Collegiate sports markets could be rejected by sportsbooks
– Tax rate of 6.25%

The most favourable bill to sportsbooks may be Bill 256. It includes the lowest state imposed fees, avoids extra royalty fee burdens and allows 39 sportsbooks to enter Missouri which will be the highest in the country. With these three bills, the foundations of Missouri’s sports betting are laid and are definitely pressing for legalisation for 2021.

Source: Bettingusa

SiGMA Europe:   

Following the UK’s  December 2020 release of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, SiGMA Group will move its February event to April. SiGMA Europe, which will be based in Malta, will now run from 13-15 April, 2021