JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is defending his decision to delay the implementation of sports betting across the state.

In particular, Hoskins objected to emergency rules from the Missouri Gaming Commission that would have expedited legalizing gambling of sports.

“Basically, the first (criteria for emergency rules) talks about if it’s in the best interest and the for the well-being and health of Missourians,” Hoskins said in an interview. “Well, a sportsbook has nothing to do with the health or general well-being of Missourians.”

Hoskins, a Republican from Warrensburg, says the emergency rules clause was not designed to rush ballot initiatives into law before they are ready.

“Just because the casinos and some of the professional sports teams want to institute sports betting faster here in the state of Missouri or quicker, that doesn’t constitute an emergency, according to Missouri state law,” he said. 

Despite the perception that he is against sports betting, he said that is not accurate.

“When I was a state senator, I filed bills to legalize sports betting here in the state of Missouri,” he added.

Hoskins believes that the campaign for November’s Amendment 2, which only passed by a margin of less than 3,000 votes, didn’t tell the whole story.

“I’ve had several voters and Missourians reach out and say that they want public input,” he said. “Many of those commercials said that education would receive between $30 to $35 million a year with the passage of sportsbook in taxes–that those casinos would pay.”

A recent report hints that number would be a lot lower, closer to $1 million.

“There’s a big difference between $35 million and $1 million,” he added.

As for when sports wagering will actually be rolled out, Hoskins said the fall season was a reasonable expectation. It must be enacted by Dec. 1.