Missouri Debate’s Renewal about Illegal Gaming and Sports Betting

On Thursday, the state Senate Committee on Gambling heard testimony regarding a ban on pre-reveal games as a proposed amendment to the Illegal Gambling Machines Act. “Pre-reveal” games are machines where a win can be determined prior to pulling the handle or pressing the button. Proponents argue that these games serve no purpose other than to defraud players out of their money and are just as illegal as other machines used for gambling.

The Pre-reveal Games

“No chance gaming” is another term to describe pre-reveal games. It usually resembles the electronic slot machines that occupy big spaces inside the brick-and-mortar casinos. This pre-reveal machines are offered by Torch Electronics. 

Based on Missouri lawmakers, running a slot machine outside the casino is already considered as an illegal act. Unfortunately, data regarding the number of machines from Torch is not yet reliable. However, in estimation, there is around 20,000 machines all over the place.

Sports Betting

At about 30 states, sports wagering and gambling has already been legalized since 2018. Kansas and Kentucky are only two states that have legal sports betting which bordered around Missouri.

Lawmakers in Missouri, headed by Sen. Denny Hoskins, are trying to put the state in the said list. The bill includes betting in both a land-based casino and on an online wagering site.