Missouri Gaming Commission hopes to open sports betting by summer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Following its certification Thursday, the Missouri Gaming Commission is working toward opening sports betting in the state by late summer next year.
Amendment 2 -- which was passed by Missouri voters on Nov. 5 -- legalizes sports gambling in the state. The measure indicated that the Missouri Gaming Commission would have to license and regulate sports betting no later than Dec. 1, 2025.
According to Missouri Gaming Commissioner Jan Zimmerman, staff has been working on sports betting rules and regulations since before the election. She added that since Missouri is late to sports betting, the commission has been able to communicate with have legalized it to learn what does and doesn't work.
Some of the guidelines that are in the works include rules for how to designate sports betting areas, how tax money will be routed to the state, and punitive measures in case of any rule violations.
"Our staff wants to make sure that those rules protect the consumers as well, people who actually will be engaged in sports betting or who will actually be going to the casinos," Zimmerman said.
The Gaming Commission is also working on reviewing and approving the casinos and sports teams that applied for sports gambling licenses. According to Zimmerman, applicants require intensive financial and criminal background by the gaming division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
"We never get all of the right paperwork the first time out," Zimmerman said. "It still takes a considerable amount of time for the background investigators to contact all of those individuals and look into all that."
Zimmerman said feelings are generally positive, with numerous casinos already planning out sports betting areas on their property.
"If it brings in a whole lot of money for education, then that's great," Zimmerman said. "That's great in my book, because I would I would love to see lots of revenue raised that would go to education for our children here in the state of Missouri."
