Poker Writer
A Missouri Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) proposal will be facing a hostile committee chair after spring break in the recently established five-person committee. Missouri Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin established the five-person “Select Senate Committee on Gaming” to handle all gambling-related bills.
HB 2989 is the bill currently under the microscope. It would legalize gambling devices and give the Missouri Lottery authority to license video games for installation in various retail locations around the Show-Me State.
Missouri has been debating legal video lottery games for several years. Many companies are chomping at the bit to tap into the state’s 6.25 million-person gambling market.
But thus far, opposition has been effective in curtailing any progress for VLTs. Casinos and owners of unregulated slot machines have lobbied against VLTs. Plus, the state has always faced significant opposition from many on moral grounds.
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O’Laughlin Promises Hearing Despite Personal Opposition
O’Laughlin has been one of those who has opposed the VLTs on moral grounds. But that does not necessarily mean the bill has no chance in the committee as she promised a fair hearing following the week break for spring break.
She has expressed concern about the societal cost of the legalization of gambling machines and believes those concerns are being ignored, with everyone focused only on the tax revenue from it. She told the Missouri Independent:
But no one talks about the societal cost of it and what it does to people and their families, and that’s kind of my concern.
In short, she does not believe the potential benefits of revenue from taxes outweigh the social ills brought by the legalization of gambling machines. It appears her opinion is unlikely to change, as she reaffirmed that stance a month after her original comments.
Lobbyists Playing the Long Game on Missouri VLTs
One of the lobbyists in favor of legalization, and who will attempt to change O’Laughlin and the committee’s mind, is Andy Arnold of J&J Ventures, an Illinois company that hopes to expand cross-border into the fresh Missouri territory. He believes that the laws regarding criminal activity in gambling are “seriously flawed”. He also expressed the importance of the revenue to Missouri.
The state is missing out on several hundred million dollars in revenues that nobody’s willing to make up.
Arnold is willing to wait it out if the bill is rejected this year. O’Laughlin’s term will be over by next year as part of a rotation of one-third of the 34-seat state senate. Arnold indicated that a new effort will simply come next year to appeal to the new faces.
Rest of Committee Willing to Hear the Missouri VLT Case
O’Laughlin is the chair of the committee, but not the only member, as the others wish to give the case a hearing before making the decision. Committee member Sen. Stephen Webber appears to be more open to the possibility. He does not think the committee is automatically stacked against legalization. He stated that he wants to hear what everyone has to say:
I suspect that since she’s the chair of the committee, it’s probably not looking good. But I’m going to give it a hearing and hear what everybody is saying.
Missourian Opinion on VLTs
Does the O’Laughlin and the committee’s stance on VLTs match the views of the typical Missourian? A recent statewide phone survey would indicate yes.
According to a survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategists, 57% opposed legalizing VLTs, while only 36% favored it.
A few opinions posted about the debate on the Missouri Independent Facebook page agree with the survey. One Missouri resident, Donna Sanders Delia from St. Charles, expressed a very negative view of the legalization of VLTs:
If they play like slot machines, and they’re illegal, shut them down. The only people profiting from this are the lobbyists and the machine owners.
She also criticized any representatives who would favor legalization.
This kind of racket is why people are getting into politics now, not to serve the people but to enjoy the extra income from these types of deals. That’s not what we put our representatives in office for and that’s exactly why we’ll vote them out.
