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Committee hears bill to add fingerprinting for sports-wagering applicants

House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee · March 9, 2026

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Summary

Representative Benny Cook presented House Bill 31-54 to clarify fingerprint and background-check authority for sports wagering and fantasy-sports applicants; the Missouri Gaming Commission supported the change, citing a federal requirement to fingerprint nonresident applicants, and no opposition was recorded at the hearing.

Representative Benny Cook told the committee he will offer a House committee substitute to House Bill 31-54 to add fingerprint and background-check language for sports wagering, fantasy sports and related licensees.

Cook described planned statutory adjustments and said the substitute will remove a portion of existing language and add specific references to the fingerprinting and background processes required for sports-wagering applicants.

Mike Lira, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, testified in support. Lira explained that casinos and regulated licensees have long required background checks, including fingerprints for nonresidents, and that when sports wagering emerged it was not explicitly covered by statute. “Fingerprint cards for people that don't reside in the state of Missouri are really necessary,” Lira said, adding the federal process enables checks of out-of-state criminal records the state cannot otherwise access.

Committee members asked no follow-up substantive questions during the hearing, and no speakers registered opposition or informational testimony on the record. The committee concluded the public hearing on HB 31-54 and moved on to the next item.