HB 970 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes provisions relating to video lottery gaming terminals, licenses, and regulation

HB 970 establishes a regulatory framework for video lottery gaming terminals in Missouri, directly affecting operators, retailers, and the state lottery commission. The bill creates a 34% tax on "adjusted gross gaming revenue" (revenue after player payouts and operational costs) and sets up an Enforcement Fund to finance law enforcement investigations of gaming violations. Key provisions include defining terms like "video lottery game operator" and "retailer," requiring licenses for all involved parties, and allowing law enforcement to use the Enforcement Fund for enforcement activities without annual budget reversion. This legislation primarily impacts businesses operating video lottery terminals, local law enforcement, and state revenue streams derived from this gaming activity.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action May 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute → Perfected · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove video lottery game references and replace them with broader gaming regulations. The repealed statutes were changed from including 572.020 and 572.070 to only 313.820, and a new section 650.930 was added. The Illegal Gaming Enforcement Fund now draws from different revenue sources and explicitly includes prosecutors and law enforcement in its use.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from specifically regulating video lottery games to broader gaming regulations, with the addition of new gaming-related sections and removal of specific video lottery provisions.

SCOPE

Repealed statutes changed from six sections to five sections, removing 572.020 and 572.070 while adding 313.820

New section 650.930 was added to the list of enacted sections

FISCAL

Illegal Gaming Enforcement Fund funding source changed from general video lottery revenue to specific subdivision of section 313.429 or other appropriated funds

ENFORCEMENT

Fund usage expanded to include prosecutors and law enforcement alongside the attorney general

DEFINITION

New definition for 'Adjusted gross gaming revenue' was added to the glossary of terms

Definition for 'Centralized computer system' was removed from the glossary of terms

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 5, 2025

Introduced

Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - CANCELLED, AMENDED: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 8:30 AM, Senate Conference Room 2 - 1st floor. This bill was removed.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Committee

Second read and referred: Appropriations(S)

upper

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed with Amendments (H) - HPA 1 - AYES: 83 NOES: 73 PRESENT: 0

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, HA 1 to HA 2, HA 2 to HA 2, HA 2, as amended, HA 3, HA 5, HA 6 adopted - AYES: 74 NOES: 70 PRESENT: 2

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 3 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 1

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 5 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Read First Time (H)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors