The World Lottery Association recognized the Missouri Lottery last week for its continued commitment to security and promotion of responsible gaming.
This new nod situates Missouri a cut above the rest of the nation. Moreover, it could reveal quite a bit about what the state’s future sports betting landscape might look like.
Missouri ranks above any other state for security
Although the state of Missouri currently offers the MO Lottery and 13 riverboat casinos, its efforts to legalize sports betting thus far have fallen short. Missourians will look to the 2023 legislative session as their next shot at bringing Missouri sports betting to fruition. One thing Missouri has gotten right, however, is its state lottery.
The Show Me State stands as the only US state to receive the WLA’s Level 2 certification for security and risk management:
- Missouri (Level 2)
- California (Level 1)
- Colorado (Level 1)
- Indiana (Level 1)
- Tennessee (Level 1)
It’s also one of a small group of states to receive Level 4 ranking under the WLA’s responsible gaming framework:
- California
- Indiana
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Tennessee
Qualifications for WLA distinction
The WLA takes a into consideration a number of industry standards when assessing each organization. In order to receive Level 2 certification, the WLA measures security and integrity standards based on four components:
- ISO/IEC 27001 international standards for information security
- lottery-specific security processes and controls
- requirements for products offered by the lottery
- controls required for offering games run by the Multi-State Lottery Association
Level 4 certification, meanwhile, requires a commitment to “continuous improvement” through the implementation of responsible gaming initiatives. The WLA assesses each association based on a variety of categories:
- Research
- Employee programs
- Retailer programs
- Game design
- Remote gaming channels
- Advertising and marketing communications
- Player education
- Treatment referral
- Stakeholder engagement
- Reporting and measurement
Missouri Lottery sales continue to rise
Judy Martin, interim executive director of the Missouri Lottery, commented on the program’s sustained success:
“This dedication to maintaining the highest standards in the industry is what allows us to responsibly raise money for education. We’re intentional in what we do, using visible and transparent practices to ensure we’re operating in a way that best serves our players, our retailers and all Missouri stakeholders.”
The Missouri Lottery has contributed over $7 billion to Missouri and its public education initiatives since its inception in 1985. Annually, the state lottery provides 3% to 4% of the state’s overall funding for public education. In fiscal year 2021, total lottery sales exceeded $1.8 billion, resulting in more than $345 million for public education.
FY 2021 also happened to become the highest grossing year on record, and also the sixth year in a row of steady growth in sales.
What this means for Missouri sports betting
A legal Missouri sports betting landscape may still be a ways away, but the state’s efforts thus far reveal a good deal about what the future may hold. The attention to detail put into Missouri Lottery regulations and the lofty standards required of casinos by the Missouri Gaming Commission suggest that Missouri sports betting could shape up to require these same standards.
Once Missouri sports betting finally gets the green light, eager bettors can look forward to a betting landscape that puts player security and responsible gaming efforts at the forefront of focus.
