St. Louis Cardinals, MLB back Missouri sports betting legislation
The St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball have backed legislation filed in the Missouri House of Representatives that would allow sports betting in the state.
The legislation, House Bill 119, “authorizes the Missouri Gaming Commission to implement regulations governing sports wagering, including standards for the conduct of sports wagering and holders of certificates for sports wagering.” The bill is sponsored by Rep. Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage, Missouri.
The bill, if adopted, would require the Missouri Gaming Commission to test new sports betting devices and forms of sports wagering, allowing the commission to issue a certificate for an interactive sports gambling platform. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled a 1992 federal law barring states from permitting sports betting.
During a hearing held Wednesday before the Missouri House General Laws Committee, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for MLB Bryan Seeley said HB 119 would “protect baseball and its fans by providing consumer protections and a strong regulatory framework.” The Cardinals and Kansas City Royals have also backed the measure.
“Legalized sports betting legislation in Missouri must protect the game of baseball and its fans from the risks of corruption associated with sports betting. HB 119 contains the right balance of protections and regulations to accomplish that goal while ensuring that Missouri creates a safe and ultimately successful sports betting market. For these reasons, it has our support,” said Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Under Smith’s legislation, a wagering tax of 6.25 percent would be imposed on receipts from sports betting, with the funds being deposited into the “Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund.”