Confusion Over Initiative Enactment Timelines Make Prop. A Effective Immediately

Intro: High rollers rejoice, Missouri gamblers can spend as much as they want at casinos effective immediately.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Missouri's Secretary of State's office has decided the repeal of gambling loss-limits approved by the voters Tuesday can take effect immediately -- rather than waiting a month for official vote certification.

Deputy Communications Director for the Secretary of States Office Ryan Hobart says Proposition A is a statutory amendment, and has different guidelines than a constitutional amendment.

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Description: Once we looked it up in the constitution we saw it says immediately it takes effect and once we look at the historical data of other initiatives taken effect immediately, that's what we found.

Hobart says once a statutory amendment passes it always goes into effect right away unless it holds a clause saying otherwise.

The Gaming Commission says it is taking this unexpected turn well and has already complied with requirements relating to loss limits and identification.

Reporting from the state capital, I'm Joshua Skurnik.

Intro: Despite Proposition A, young looking gamblers will still need to bring their IDs in order to play at casinos.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Proposition A makes it effective immediately that a person does not need to have identification to enter a casino.

Ballot language explains this is to protect player's privacy and to prevent identity theft.

The initiative also has a section reiterating the state law that a player must be twenty one, and the Missouri Gaming Commission says it will make sure it's enforced.

Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission Gene McNury says the process will be similar to how establishments who serve alcohol check IDs.

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Description: I think the rule of thumb for the ATC is that if they look under thirty then you ID them.

McNury admits it would be in the best economic interest of casinos to let minors in but looks forward to the challenge and will give sanctions accordingly.

Public Relations Manager for the St. Charles Ameristar Casino Mike Knopfel says his casino has and always will card patrons who appear under the age of thirty.

Reporting from the State Capital, I'm Joshua Skurnik.

Intro: Ameristar Casinos says minors will not have an easier time getting in even with the loss of compulsory ID checking.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Public Relations Manager for Ameristar Casinos Mike Knopfel says his casino will still card players who look under thirty.

He says all of the staff under go annual training in signs to look for when a player is under age.

Mike says it's in their best interest to keep minors out.

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Description: The Missouri Gaming Commission has an office on each Missouri casino vessel, or property if you want to call it that, and like I said they have a present here.

Knopfel says not giving an ID at the counter is just one thing, and other measures are in place to enforce age restrictions.

Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission Gene McNury admits it would be in the best economic interest of casinos to let minors in but says any casinos caught would be sanctioned.

Reporting from the State Capital, I'm Joshua Skurnik.