Gambling Company Donates $200K to Missouri Lawmakers After Video Lottery Bill
Illinois gambling company J&J Ventures donated $200,000 to Missouri lawmakers supporting video lottery expansion just days after the legislative session ended.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — A gambling company donated $200,000 to three Missouri lawmakers just four days after the General Assembly adjourned in May, targeting supporters of a controversial video lottery bill that could open a multi-billion dollar gambling market in the state.
J&J Ventures of Effingham, Illinois, distributed the funds among political action committees aligned with key legislative supporters of the video slot machine proposal. The company stands to benefit from access to a retail gambling market with a potential cash handle of $10 billion and profits of $2 billion from lost wagers.
Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri, the political action committee aligned with state Sen. Jason Bean, a Holcomb Republican, received the largest single donation of $100,000. Bean publicly championed the video lottery proposal this year and is likely to become state Senate president pro tem in 2027.
Strategic Political Investments
The remaining $100,000 was split equally between two other influential lawmakers. 417 PAC, aligned with state Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield running for majority floor leader, received $50,000. If re-elected and chosen as majority leader, Trent will have the authority to decide when a video lottery bill comes up for debate.
Missouri Enterprise PAC, aligned with state Rep. Bill Hardwick, a Republican from Dixon, also received $50,000. Hardwick sponsored the video lottery bill that passed while Bean observed the proceedings. Hardwick is currently running in a four-way GOP primary for the 16th District state Senate seat.
Bean used Senate floor time in May to showcase support for the video lottery proposal among members expected to return in 2027, demonstrating the legislation’s continued momentum in the chamber.
Major Industry Player
J&J Ventures operates as the nation’s second-largest operator of retail gambling terminals, according to market research. The company has invested heavily in Missouri politics, contributing $3.5 million to campaigns since 2015, with more than half of those contributions coming since the start of 2025, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
The proposed video lottery system would create a new revenue stream split between terminal operators, retail outlets, and the state government. The legislation represents a significant expansion of gambling options in Missouri beyond the state’s existing casino operations.
The timing of the donations, coming immediately after the legislative session ended, highlights the ongoing political battle over gambling expansion in Missouri. With key supporters positioned for leadership roles in the upcoming legislative session, the video lottery proposal appears positioned for continued consideration in 2027.
