This time every year, brackets are filled, hands are shaken and bets are made.
In some states, sports betting is legal, and a proposed bill would make Missouri one of them.
Missouri Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, is sponsoring State Bill 1009, which was introduced Feb. 19 and would authorize sports wagering in Missouri depending on the outcome of a pending case.
A case before the U.S. Supreme Court brought by the state of New Jersey is seeking to allow sports betting in states, like Missouri, where it is currently illegal.
“If they will rule in favor of the state, then states like Missouri could allow a vote in the state for legalizing sports betting. If the Supreme Court tries to go this route, then this is something that we might want to do in the state to bring in more revenue,” Rowden said.
If things go in favor of legalizing sports betting, casinos would be able to offer land-based and mobile phone wagering on professional sporting events such as baseball, basketball and football.
However, one major sports league is wanting in on the bets.
“Major League Baseball is pushing for a 1 percent royalty fee, that is not in my bill,” Rowden said. “My preference is that all the money would stay in the state of Missouri instead of going to MLB.”
Rowden said if the money stays in the state, it goes toward education and other needs.
There was a hearing on the Supreme Court case during the last week of February.
“We are waiting on a committee vote and there are other conversations going to about how we would move forward,” Rowden said.
For more on SB 1009, log onto https://legiscan.com/MO/text/SB1009/2018.
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