The president of the Missouri Senate on Wednesday floated the possibility of holding a statewide vote on whether to legalize gas station slot machines.
Following a two-hour hearing on legislation that would rid the state of illegal gambling terminals and replace them with video lottery machines overseen and taxed by the state, Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin sided with opponents who suggested voters should have a say on the issue.
“Maybe it’s something that should be put on the ballot,” the Shelbina Republican said. “If it were up to me, I would have had them all removed by now.”
O’Laughlin formed a special Senate committee on gambling after the House in February narrowly approved a plan to ban companies from placing unregulated and untaxed gambling terminals in businesses after a one-year grace period.
