A Missouri lawmaker is attempting to create a state-wide video lottery system to claw back control of slot machines, as reported by local media.
Bill Hardwick, a Republican Representative, is the main proponent of HB 2989, which secured approval from the Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee on Monday 2 February.
The bill was approved by eight votes to five, a relatively narrow margin. The next stage is for the bill to be debated on the House floor, but it has not yet been added to the legislative calendar.
If approved, the bill will set up a video lottery system across Missouri which would be managed by the Missouri Lottery. As the machines would be operated by the state lottery, proceeds will go towards state social initiatives.
According to the Missouri Independent, Hardwick’s envisioned video lottery system would see one-third of lottery machine products directed to state education programmes alongside a 3% tax to support local governments.
As with many other state lottery initiatives throughout the US, education is a key focus of Missouri’s latest legislative push. Hardwick estimates that up to $600m could be generated to support state education demands via the launch of a video lottery system.
Perhaps of most significance to the legislator is his desire to bring state gambling activity further under central control, however. Various slot games have been operated by Missouri convenience stores for years, but without any regulation.
Efforts to clamp down on this and bring the system under greater state control have been going on for several years. An attempt to introduce a new system failed in the Senate last year, however.
Should the legislation secure final approval in both the House and Senate it could present a big commercial opportunity for B2B tech partners of the lottery industry, namely the likes of the Missouri Lottery’s long-time tech supplier Brightstar.
The development has added significance given the recent launch of Missouri’s regulated sports betting and gaming market, becoming the 40th state to launch a gaming market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018.