Missouri Lawmakers to Consider Sports Betting

Gamblers in the Show Me State may soon be able to trek on over to their local casino and place bets on sporting events.

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A Supreme Court ruling back in May paved the way for individual states to begin legalizing sports wagering and allow sportsbooks to operate within their borders.

In Missouri there is debate whether sports leagues should be entitled to a controversial "integrity fee". 

Sports leagues last year told lawmakers that they'd use the money to ensure players and teams don't throw or manipulate games. However, Missouri Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Winter blasted the so-called "integrity fees" as unwarranted.

"The leagues and those who are supporting the integrity fee should already be doing those functions," he said.

Haahr said he's fairly pessimistic on a sports wagering bill advancing until casinos and sports leagues reach an agreement.

No industry is thriving more these days than the Pay Per Head sector, which supplies betting software to bookies and folks who may just want to run a small sportsbook for friends and family.

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com