A Missouri Senate committee is weighing legislation that would regulate video gambling machines.
The unlicensed machines can be found in convenience stores, truck stops, American Legion and VFW halls, bars, and other locations throughout the state.
Troy Stremming, a lobbyist for J&J Gaming, testified in favor of the bill Thursday before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Proper guardrails should be put in place to protect the public and proper taxation should be in place to generate appropriate tax revenue for the state of Missouri,” he told the committee. “HB 970 provides this path forward, a path to legality and enforcement, a path for Missouri small businesses to grow, and a path to consumer protection as well as taxation.”
Mike Winter, a lobbyist for Missouri’s 13 casinos, testified against the bill.
“With all due respect, this is the largest expansion of gambling which would not have gone to a vote of the people,” he said. “When you read the bill, it limits the number of machines to eight machines per lottery retailer. There are 4,200 approximate lottery retailers. So if you do the math, it’s over 33,000 machines.”
The Missouri House passed the bill on April 9. It’s sponsored by State Rep. Bill Hardwick, R-Dixon.
The proposal’s biggest hurdle may be the calendar, as there’s just one week left in this year’s legislative session.
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