A Summary of the Evolution of Online Gambling in the State of Missouri 

Thomas Burger
Follow me

Missouri has a long history of legalizing various sorts of gaming. During the nineteenth century, when riverboat gambling was popular throughout the United States, the state erected its casinos aboard such vessels. It reestablished the gaming business in 1992, but this time via the use of online games rather than boats. 

In this section, we will go over the legal history of gambling in Missouri and explain how the current rules affect individuals who play. In addition, we will make an effort to present an outline of the probable outcomes for the state’s gaming future. 

The Beginnings of Everything 

The first reported incidents of gambling in Missouri were on boats in the second half of the nineteenth century. By the early twentieth century, however, this practice was no longer used in any section of the country. Following that, the majority of gambling activities went underground, as they did across the rest of the United States. 

Betting on horse races was permissible during this period; however, there was no place in Missouri for racehorses to be stabled, thus the pastime was never extremely popular. This was the case until the 1980s when the state reinstated charitable Bingo as a form of gambling. 

The State Lottery was in operation in the 1980s 

The birth of the state lottery occurred in 1980. This organization’s principal activity was to arrange and administer lotteries and bingo games with earnings going to charity organizations. The inaugural drawing for the current version of the state lottery was held in 1986, and before that, it included games like PowerBall, which was a gambling game managed by the state. 

The industry had already grown much larger than it had been when the State Lottery was founded in 1992. The most notable part of the event was the return of the boats that had been used for gambling in the state for such a long time. In many cases, these vessels served as complex and sumptuous floating casinos. 

Variations in State and Local Gambling Regulations 

Many parts of the state’s gambling activities are unique, and as a result, many components of the state’s legal system are unique as well. This includes the fact that poker has always been socially acceptable because it is considered a private game performed by people. The most difficult part was figuring out which components of the game make it “social.” 

Another odd characteristic of Missouri’s gaming regulations is that gambling for a living is prohibited. People who obtain 20% or more of their income from gambling are deemed professional gamblers under state law, and the state requires them to reduce that percentage or face legal consequences. 

The Industry Following 1994 

In Missouri, there was a campaign in 1994 to widen the scope of the gambling sector. The majority of this effort was done by the casinos themselves because the gaming industry fought for the inclusion of the extra games on the list of games that are authorized to gamble on in the state. Baccarat, blackjack, poker, roulette, and slot machines were among the options. This very much covers the majority of the games that were popular at the time and were loved by a large number of people. Following that, the state began pursuing legal action against people who sought to sell lottery tickets online, as well as those who operated online casinos located in the offshore zone and operating in the state of Missouri. 

Additional Legislative Amendments 

A few additional adjustments to the rules were introduced in the 2000s to reflect corporate trends. This involves raising the taxes charged on the industry as a result of its recent expansion and greater profitability. Furthermore, the state has limited the number of casinos that are permitted to operate within its borders. 

The regulations governing casino loss limits in Missouri have also been updated, and as a result, there is no longer any such restriction. Furthermore, it has established an educational fund that will be paid by the earnings earned by the casino that is operating within the state. This has been the normal procedure since 2008. Furthermore, the year 2016 saw the start of the state’s authorization of daily fantasy sports. 

Gambling on the internet 

Online gambling is prohibited in the state of Missouri. The fact that it is not outlawed in the state, on the other hand, means that the action is now accepted inside a legal limbo known as a “gray area” in which it is not actually prohibited but is also not prohibited. 

The state has never charged anyone with a crime for engaging in online gambling. This entails gambling via various technological channels like as the phone and the internet. Given Missouri’s loose gambling culture, the majority of people interpret this to mean that residents are free to indulge in nearly any type of gambling, including online gambling. This is susceptible to change because the territory in question is not governed by any restrictions. 

Will the state allow internet gaming when it comes to gambling? 

At this point, there is no straightforward answer to this question. Several states that are comparable to Missouri in terms of gaming tradition and overall attitude toward gambling have followed suit. This group includes the states of Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. 

Missouri is geographically adjacent to these states, so it is logical to expect it to follow their path. Both Illinois and Iowa considered doing the same thing, but neither state elected to go further with the concept. When all factors are considered, it is logical to assume that Missouri will not change its rules very soon. Things are going well as they are, and there is no considerable political push to change things. 

To summarize 

Gambling has a lengthy history in human history. It all began with gambling ships in the nineteenth century, and it wasn’t until much later that the practice was reintroduced into the modern environment of the twentieth century. There is a state gaming commission, and the legislation requires that a portion of the proceeds from gambling be donated to educational institutions. 

There has never been a single individual convicted in Missouri for indulging in unlawful online gambling, even though it is technically prohibited and there is no push to legalize it. Missouri has enabled anyone to participate in fantasy sports since 2016.