Voters have changed the constitution and expanded gambling in Missouri many times.

Bingo, peri-mutuel waging on horse racing, lottery, riverboat gambling, casinos, and sports betting are just a few examples of constitutional changes approved by the voters. Once the gaming laws are embedding in the constitution, statutory fixes by the legislature are no longer possible. Legislators can change statutes but changes to the constitution can only be addressed by a vote of the people. HB 970, sponsored by Rep Bill Hardwick, is an attempt by the legislature to regulate the proliferation of the video lottery terminals (VLT) that are popping up all over the state.

Because of the way these gaming terminals are designed, the outcome of each game is known before the operator spends any money. There is an argument that the modern definition of gambling doesn’t apply to VTLs since the outcome is a known condition of play.

 Changing the definition of gambling to make VLT illegal opens a whole new can or worms. Unintended consequences could have a serious impact on our personal freedoms. One thing crystal clear to me; the moral degradation of our culture is perpetuated by the expansion of gambling in Missouri. I don’t like it.

 If we can’t make video lottery terminals illegal, maybe regulating the terminals is the best way to control and limit their impact on our communities. Several amendments to the original bill have been an attempt to perfect the legislation. If we don’t do something, the status quo prevails. Future statutory changes create a dynamic opportunity to continue to address perceived problems.

I don’t like the perpetuation and expansion of gambling in Missouri. And I don’t think there is a perfect solution to the challenges associated with the video lottery machines. Balancing morality and freedoms is a nearly impossible task. After long hours debating HB 970 in the House, the bill passed in the House by the narrowest margin. The Senate will add their voices to the conversation. It’s still a long way from the Governor’s desk.

Theodore Roosevelt is credited as saying, “The best thing to do is the right thing, the second best thing to do is the wrong thing, and the worst thing to do is nothing at all.”  I agree with Teddy. I don’t like the idea of sitting on our hands and doing nothing. Doing nothing doesn’t remove the machines. Without legislation there are no controls, no regulations, and no consumer protections. We had to do something, but I don’t like it.

Many thanks to my legislative assistant Jill Ryals for helping keep our office running smoothly during these last and busiest weeks of session. Call 573-751-6668 or if you want to send us an email, my address is bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov.