Missouri House Committee advances bill to legalise Video Lottery terminals

A Missouri House committee has moved forward with a bill that would make video lottery terminals (VLTs) legal all over the state. Moreover, the bill sets a deadline for getting rid of ‘gray market’ slot machines that aren’t regulated.

The House Special Committee on Public Policy voted 8 to 5 to pass House Bill 2989, which was sponsored by Republican Representative Bill Hardwick. The bill will now go to the full House for debate.

The bill suggests that the state should run a system through the Missouri Lottery Commission that lets VLTs be put in places like bars, fraternal organisations, veterans’ halls, and truck stops.

The law would limit licensed operators to eight terminals at each location, and players would have to be at least 21 years old. The law also says that all terminals must be connected to a central control system so it can be monitored and revenue can be tracked correctly.

One of the main goals of HB 2989 is to get rid of the thousands of unregulated slot machines that are now in convenience stores and other stores, which are often called ‘no-chance’ games.

The bill gives vendors two years to get these machines off the market. The bill’s goal is to replace these unregulated devices with a controlled system that brings in tax money for the state, with about a third of that money going to education.

Supporters estimate that a regulated VLT market could generate significant funding.

During a public hearing, proponents projected that the new system could yield up to $600m (£439m) for education, while increased casino entry fees — raised from $2 to $4 under the bill — could provide an additional $55m (£40m) for veterans’ programmes.

However, opponents, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, argued that the bill “retroactively legitimises unlawful operators, and it expands high-risk gambling into vulnerable communities without adequate safeguards.”

The bill also allows local municipalities to opt out by passing ordinances to prohibit VLTs within their jurisdictions.