Ballpark Village Archives

Parson says grey area should be cleaned up in Missouri’s gambling laws

January 31, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Last October, the Missouri State Highway Patrol testified that the number of complaints it has received about illegal gambling has increased from 39 in 2018 to at least 145 in 2019. Most of those complaints were about alleged illegal slot machines. The terminals can be found in bars, restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores in Missouri.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaks to the Capitol Press Corps after being sworn-in as governor on June 1, 2018 in Jefferson City (file photo by Tim Bommel/UPI)

Gov. Mike Parson says the grey area needs to be cleaned up in Missouri’s gambling laws. During a press event in Jefferson City, Parson tells reporters he expects plenty of discussion this session by the state Legislature about the matter.

“You can’t just have people in there setting up slot machines all over the state with no guidance or no supervision,” says Parson.

During legislative hearings held last year about illegal gambling, the Missouri Lottery testified that illegal slot machines are hurting public education in the Show-Me State.

Meanwhile, Webster Groves resident Chris Marshall, who co-owns Llywelyn’s Pub testified in November before the House gaming committee. He said the machines can help managers invest money in restaurant renovations. He cites documents showing the average restaurant in Illinois that has five video game machines can average additional revenue of about $5,000 per month.

Under a proposal this session by State Representative Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, he wants to legalize sports wagering and slot machines. He’s proposing to let truck stops and fraternal organizations operate up to ten video lottery terminals at one location. Bars could operate up to five slot machines at one location.

This week, a Missouri House committee voted in favor of Shaul’s measure, House Bill 2088. It would also allow the gambling activities in “entertainment districts”, like the Power & Light District in Kansas City and Ballpark Village in St. Louis.

Schaul’s proposal is at odds with legislation introduced by Senate leader Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan. Schatz is proposing to increase penalties for what Schatz calls illegal slot machines. At the conclusion of last year’s regular session, Schatz said illegal gaming has exploded across Missouri in record numbers.

“Grey or black market or whatever type of games you want to call, those are everywhere across our state in every district,” Schatz said.

Under Senate Bill 557, a person or business and any affiliated company with a gaming license that is convicted of or pleads guilty to illegal gambling, would be permanently banned from being licensed in video lottery gaming. Any conviction for illegal gambling activity involving an illegal gambling device would result in the automatic and permanent revocation of a license issued under the Liquor Control Law, as well as any lottery game retailer license.

A Senate committee has voted in favor of Schatz’s bill. The measure awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Sports wagering bill is now heading to Missouri House floor

January 29, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation that would legalize sports wagering and slot machines was approved by a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on Tuesday.

State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, speaks at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on August 22, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The comprehensive 31-page gaming bill, which is sponsored by State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, will now head to the House floor.

The bill is House Bill 2088.

The House Special Committee on Government Oversight also voted to approve an amendment from Shaul, to allow sports wagering and slot machines in “entertainment districts.”

“What this does is basically allows (the) Power and Light District (in Kansas City) and also Ballpark Village areas to become an entertainment district so that they could also do sports betting and VLT’s,” Shaul testifies.

VLT’s, known as video lottery terminals, are slot machines. State Rep. Peter Meredith, D-St. Louis, asked about the amendment’s language.

“Are we sure that it’s limited to those two (Power and Light and Ballpark Village), with these definitions,” Meredith asks Shaul.

“I believe before this bill is done, they’ll be some expansion of that to some other players that will want to be involved,” Shaul responds.

Missourinet checked with Shaul’s office after the hearing, to confirm specifics about the language. Shaul’s office says Ballpark Village and Power and Light are examples of entertainment districts and possible locations for the sports betting and VLT’s.

The slot machine issue has been a high-profile issue at the Missouri Capitol, dominating discussion at several House interim gaming hearings in the fall. The Missouri State Highway Patrol testified in October that the number of complaints it’s received about illegal gambling has increased from 39 in 2018 to at least 145 in 2019. Most of those complaints were about slot machines.

Shaul’s legislation would allow the Missouri Lottery Commission to implement a system of video lottery game terminals and to issue licenses to video lottery game manufacturers, distributors, operators and handlers.

Under the Shaul bill, the video lottery terminals would be connected to a centralized computer system developed by the Lottery Commission. No terminal could be placed in operation without connecting to that system, under the bill.

The Shaul bill says that truck stops and fraternal organizations could operate up to ten video lottery terminals at one location. Bars could operate up to five slot machines, at one location.

It also prohibits those under 21 from playing the slot machines.

As for the overall bill, Shaul says 18 states will have implemented sports wagering, by the end of 2020. It will be heading to the House floor.

Representative Meredith says the legislation should go to a statewide vote, noting the Missouri Lottery’s creation and other major gaming issues went to voters.

“This would be the first major expansion of gambling in our state ever to not go to a vote of the people,” Meredith says. “The vote of the people who even have to vote to change the rules on bingo.”

Meredith is referring to a statewide vote in November 2018, involving bingo. His amendment was defeated in committee.

A Major League Baseball (MLB) representative testified before Shaul’s House committee in Jefferson City in November, predicting that Missourians will wager $5.5 billion annually on sports, if it’s legalized.