HB 388 Aldridge, Rasheen
HB 388 -- ILLEGAL GAMBLING
SPONSOR: Aldridge
Currently, the Missouri Gaming Commission is allowed to enter into agreements with various federal, state, and local agencies to carry out their duties. This bill also allows the Commission to enter into agreements with such agencies and the State Highway Patrol for investigations relating to and the enforcement of criminal provisions relating to illegal gambling (Section 313.004, RSMo).
This bill requires the Gaming Commission to establish a telephone contact number, which shall be prominently displayed on the Commission's website, to receive reports of suspected illegal gambling activity. The Commission shall refer such reports to the State Highway Patrol, which must initiate investigations into such reports. Upon the request of the prosecuting attorney, the Attorney General shall aid such prosecuting attorney in prosecuting violations referred by the Commission (Section 313.004).
This bill allows the Supervisor of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to refer to the Missouri Gaming Commission any suspected illegal gambling activity being conducted on the premises of a location licensed under the Liquor Control Law (Section 311.660).
Upon notification by the Commission or a law enforcement agency of possession of an illegal gambling device, the Supervisor of Alcohol and Tobacco Control shall suspend or revoke such person's license on such terms and conditions as the Supervisor deems appropriate, provided such person shall be given 10 days to remove the illegal gambling device from the premises prior to the suspension or revocation of a license. The Supervisor will not be required to give a person such 10 days period upon a second or subsequent notification of a violation (Section 311.680).
Currently, a sheriff, peace officer, or eight or more citizens of a county or city are allowed to bring an action in circuit court to initiate proceedings to suspend or revoke a license issued under the Liquor Control Law as a result of certain offenses committed by a licensee. This bill adds permitting illegal gambling devices on the licensed premises of a licensee to such list of offenses for which an action may be brought (Section 311.710).
This bill modifies the definitions of "gambling device" and "slot machine" for the purposes of provisions of law relating to the prosecution of illegal gambling (Section 572.010).
This bill defines the terms "net proceeds", "raffle" or "sweepstakes", and "sponsor" for the purposes of Article III, Section 39(f) of the Missouri Constitution authorizing charitable and religious organizations to sponsor raffles or sweepstakes (Section 572.015).
This bill contains an emergency clause.
This bill is similar to HB 1056 (2023 and HB 2910 (2022).