MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - The attempt to repeal the $500 loss limit on riverboat casinos started as one of the top issues of the legislative session, but its importance has since fizzeled. In fact, it may no longer be an issue.
Activity on the issue in both House and Senate Committees has come to a virtual standstill.
Senate President Pro Tem Bill McKenna, D-Barnhart, conceded he is doubtful his bill to repeal the loss limit will even get a vote in the Senate Corrections and General Laws Committee.
"It's gasping real bad," he said. "I don't have enough votes on the floor. I have about 13, but I need 18. I want to make sure it will get approved before I bring it up again in committee."
The proposal faces the same scenario in the House Ways and Means Committee.
"The committee has taken no action and I doubt seriously that it will," said Committee Chairman Nancy Farmer, D-St. Louis. "There are no votes for it."
However, Rep. O.L. Shelton, D-St. Louis, a sponsor of the repeal bill in the House remains optimistic.
"It would create a great economic boom for local and state governments of Missouri," he said. "I don't see why the House wouldn't want to pass it."
Missouri remains the only state in the nation to mandate a loss limit in gambling casinos.
"It's been the primary reason why it's so difficult to turn a profit," said Rob Stillwell, a representative for Sam's Town Casino in Kansas City. "Here we are providing thousands of jobs and investing thousands of dollars for non-gambling purposes and we are not being recognized as far as the vitality in the economy we are bringing to Missouri."
Casinos are adamant about eliminating the $500 loss limit. They claim that the limit drives off the "high rollers," who can afford to spend more that $500, to Illinois or Indian where there are no loss limits. Subsequently, casinos like Sam's Town are facing deep financial problems.
Despite the lack of legislative activity, there has been considerable lobbying on both sides of the casino issue inside the Capitol building.
"All the (existing) casinos are lobbying heavily," Stillwell said. "We're making progress but certainly not to the extent we want."
Despite the apparant legislative failure by the gambling industry, opponents of riverboat gaming remain weary of a revival of the issue.
"There has been considerable public outcry," said Steve Taylor, an anti-casino lobbyist for Casino Watch. "It's totally unpopular because people approved riverboat gambling with safeguards. I'm certain they (legislators) haven't given up on repelling the loss limit. If we let our guard down, I wouldn't be surprised if it was whipped right through."
But for now, new casinos coming into the state will have to accept the loss limit along with the old casinos.
"Basically we came in knowing that there was a $500 loss limit," said Cathy McLaughlin of Davis Gaming Boonville Inc., which recently won a bid to become the only Mid-Missouri casino.
"We would not have pursued this project if we thought we couldn't make a go of it. Obviously, if it was removed there would be higher profit margins."