Missouri Senate Committee Approves Sports Betting Bill, Blocks Combined Sports Betting and VLT Bill

Missouri lawmakers may finally be looking to divorce the issue of sports betting and video lottery terminals as a combined deal, as the Senate Appropriations Committee today denied an integrated sports betting and video lottery terminal bill and instead approved a piece of standalone sports betting legislation.

The appropriations committee voted against Sen. Denny Hoskins bill, , to legalize and video lottery terminals (VLTs). Instead, the committee gave the green light to Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer s bill, , which seeks to only legalize retail and online sports betting in the state.

The inclusion of video lottery terminals in sports betting legislation has long been a point of controversy among Missouri lawmakers, but today s decision may offer us a glimpse into how the iss…