Thursday, February 15, 2007

Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields wants to remove the $500 gambling
limit every two hours and impose a one percent tax increase on casinos.
Money generated from those changes would be directed at a new scholarship
program available to all high school graduates attending a public or private
Missouri higher education institution. The exact amount of each scholarship
would depend on how many students apply and how much revenue is generated.
The bill also limits casino licenses to 13, preventing a further expansion
of gambling boats. The majority of the state's current casinos are
supporting the idea, but some have concerns about the higher tax. Other
opponents include various anti-gambling organizations.