Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins attempts to legalise sports wagering

Senator, Denny Hoskins for the state of Missouri has been pushing for SB767, to legalise sports wagering. Which if materialised would aid in extracting further revenue from gambling.

Sports wagering has emerged as a hot topic in the US, as there are anticipations that the Supreme Court might rule and revoke the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), thereby triggering the segment nationwide. Though betting on sports has been unauthorised almost everywhere in the country the states are preparing to see whether the SCOTUS would turn out in their favour.

In Missouri, Sen. Denny Hoskins added a sports wagering clause to a slot machine piece of legislation in order to generate up to a yearly of US$60 million revenue. The bill which is set to be debated in the upcoming weeks could “undergo further changes before it gets to the full Senate,” Hoskins affirmed.

Mike Winter of the Missouri Gaming Association evaluated the main purpose of the bill, which is legalising slot  machines in bars and convenience stores and said it would be the largest expansion of gambling since voters approved the casinos: “This is a very substantial change in policy (…) We do have considerable concerns with the legislation,” he said.

The Executive Director of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Operators Association, Ron Leone said, his clients support the legislation: “We think it will be good for state and local tax coffers. I know budgets are tight.”