HCS HB 2420 -- EXCURSION GAMBLING BOATS

SPONSOR:  Jones, 89 (Baker, 123)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 5 to 1.

This substitute prohibits the Missouri Gaming Commission from
issuing any new license to operate excursion gambling boats prior
to August 28, 2011.  Any license issued to replace an expired,
forfeited, or revoked license must be issued to the same
excursion gambling boat or another boat located in the same or
adjoining city or county as the boat whose license is being
replaced.

Any future licenses for which the commission received an
application and selected the application as a priority to be
investigated to determine suitability for a license prior to
December 31, 2007, will be considered as a license issued prior
to August 28, 2008.

The Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission is
allowed to levy an appropriate administrative penalty against a
holder of any gaming license who violates the provisions of
Chapter 313, RSMo, including, but not limited to, a monetary
penalty and suspension or revocation of a license.  The executive
director must report any administrative penalties to the
commission on a regular basis.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2009,
FY 2010, and FY 2011.  Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of $0
to Unknown in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill creates a moratorium on
new casino boat licenses.  In Missouri, there is no outcry for
more casinos as Missourians have shown at the polls in municipal
elections in Jefferson City and Branson.  The gaming industry in
Missouri is a mature market as shown by the commission's own
study.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Baker (123); Casino
Watch; Missouri Family Network; and Cathy Bordner.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that gaming in Missouri
is a constantly changing environment.  The commission needs the
ability to license casinos in order to remain flexible and deal
with the many local markets.  The commission should be allowed to
deal with each application by each casino on a case-by-case basis
without any limitation on licenses.  One issue with the Missouri
gaming market is that the 13 licenses are not owned by 13
different entities.  In reality, there are about five owners of
those 13 licenses; and by limiting the licenses, a monopoly in
the gaming industry in Missouri will be created.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri Gaming Commission; and
Wild Rose Entertainment.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that casinos applying
for licenses prior to the effective date of the bill and that are
being considered currently for licenses should be exempt from the
provisions of the bill.  There is currently a casino that has
invested millions of dollars based on the presumption that they
will be able to apply for and be issued a license.

Testifying on the bill was Pinnacle Entertainment, Incorporated.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm