Missouri

Missouri may lose its loss limit. In a move that may have been spurred by Kansas' legalization of casinos, the state Senate voted to preliminarily approve a bill to ditch the $500-per-two-hours-of-play limit --- but just barely. The proposed bill would also increase the number of gaming licenses issued by the state and casinos' tax rates to almost 25 percent on revenue more than $40 million. This 4.9 percent tax hike has led the Missouri Gaming Association to drop its support of the measure, despite the loss-limit revocation being a long-fought-for issue. The House had previously approved lifting the loss limit and a two percent tax increase; the percentage was raised to break a filibuster on the Senate floor. As of CEM's press time, the bill's third reading was on the back burner, and it was unclear whether it would be discussed again this session. According to the Missouri Gaming Commission, without the loss limit, casinos could stand to bring in an additional half billion dollars per year.