Senate gives first-round approval to gambling bill

Wednesday, April 12, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

The legislation, which passed by voice vote after three hours of debate on Tuesday, would also allow gamblers to use a debit card or tokens to gamble, promote minority hiring in the gambling industry and crack down on gamblers under the age of 21.

The legislation sponsored by Sen. James Mathewson, D-Sedalia, is similar to a gambling bill vetoed by Gov. Mel Carnahan last year over a provision that opponents said promoted gambling in kiddie arcades.

Mathewson said the provision, which would have allowed children playing arcade games with tokens to win prizes valued at up to $250, was purposely left off this year's bill in hopes of avoiding another veto.

"We took all of that out," Mathewson said.

Sen. William Clay, D-St. Louis, successfully backed an amendment that would require the Missouri Gaming Commission to give first consideration for new gambling licenses to areas that don't currently have casinos.

He said too much of the gambling industry is concentrated in areas like St. Louis and Kansas City.

"This amendment will give the commission some direction in spreading the casinos out," Clay said. "We don't need an over-saturation of gambling boats in any one area."

There are currently four casinos in Kansas City and three in St. Louis. Two more Illinois casinos are considered part of the St. Louis market.

Currently, only two riverboat casinos operate outside of those areas, one in Caruthersville, the other in St. Joseph. A third is under construction in La Grange, north of St. Louis, and a fourth is being proposed for the Boonville area.

Kevin Mullally, the Gaming Commission's deputy director, said Tuesday there are currently nine applications for out-state casinos. There's no limit to the number of licenses the commission can grant, he said.

Under the bill, one cent from every dollar collected from $2 riverboat boarding fees could be used by the Missouri Department of Health to help fight compulsive gambling.

The money, estimated to be about $480,000 a year, would be subject to appropriation by lawmakers.

"It's kind of a significant amount," Mathewson said. "Though I don't think you can legislate people's behavior."

Amendments attached to the legislation included new regulations for raffles and sweepstakes, language restricting personal information provided to casinos by gamblers and regulation of riverboat child care facilities.

The Senate removed a provision opposed by antigambling groups that would have extended the period of time between state license renewals for riverboat casinos from two years to up to three years.

The bill still requires final Senate approval before moving to the House.