Show Me Your Bet Slips! Missouri Sports Betting Amendment Passes At The Polls
Missouri put six years of failed sports betting legislation in the rearview mirror on Election Night, as residents took matters into their own hands and narrowly voted to pass Amendment 2.
The amendment received 50.1% “yes” votes to 49.9% “no” votes and will make Missouri the 39th US state to legalize sports betting in some form.
With its passage, Amendment 2 will be codified into the Missouri Constitution and take effect in 30 days. The amendment requires Missouri sports betting to launch by Dec. 1, 2025, and the state will undoubtedly work to go live well before that deadline.
Ballot initiative overcomes ‘obstructionist’
Missouri’s attempts to legalize sports betting have fallen short year after year since the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting by repealing PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
These failures came mainly from one self-proclaimed “obstructionist,” Sen. Denny Hoskins, who repeatedly shut down all progress on legalizing sports betting in Missouri.
Hoskins wished to legalize video lottery terminals concurrently with sports betting, an idea that many lawmakers opposed on several levels. Some disagree entirely with legalizing VLTs, and others want them regulated separately.
Even those favoring VLT legalization disagree on how or whether to regulate them.
Missouri teams step in to lead sports betting push
With lawmakers dropping the ball, a coalition of Missouri sports teams came together, intent on seeking legalization through an alternative route. That route, the ballot initiative, allows citizens to petition for new state constitutional amendments.
An initiative gains ballot access in Missouri if it can acquire 8% of voter signatures six months before voting day. This amounted to 180,000 signatures by May 5.
The political action committee Winning for Missouri Education took the reins in obtaining the requisite signatures, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office announced the initiative’s approval in August. Its primary funding – nearly $41 million – came from FanDuel and DraftKings.
Sports teams, bettors and students to benefit
The passing of Amendment 2 establishes a legal, regulated sports wagering industry in Missouri, including mobile sports betting apps. Each of Missouri’s 13 riverboat casinos and six professional sports teams may apply for a sports betting license and can partner with an established operator.
As with casinos, the Missouri Gaming Commission will regulate the new sports betting industry.
Sportsbooks will pay a 10% tax on all revenue to cover regulatory expenses and allocate $5 million to a responsible gambling fund. All remaining money will go to Missouri’s elementary, secondary and higher education.
Missouri has a similar population to Indiana and Maryland. Indiana has reported $478.9 million in sports betting revenue since October 2023, and Maryland sportsbooks have made $620.8 million.
Even after covering expenses, similar numbers to either would result in eight figures of new money going to the state’s schools. Given Missourians’ passion for the sports teams on both sides of the state, the market will be eager to join the sports betting party it has entered so late.
“Missouri has some of the best sports fans in the world, and they showed up big for their favorite teams on Election Day,” said Bill DeWitt III, the president of the St. Louis Cardinals. “On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports franchises, we want to thank the Missouri voters who made their voices heard by approving Amendment 2.”
Casino expansion suffers a less favorable fate
While Missourians barely voted to pass Amendment 2, they felt differently about expanding the state’s riverboat casino industry. Amendment 5, which sought to establish a new casino near Lake of the Ozarks, failed 52% to 48%.
As for sports betting, Amendment 2 will go into law on Dec. 5. However, it will take longer than a month before the industry begins taking shape.
The coming months will bring news of teams and sportsbooks forging partnerships and gaining regulatory approval to launch.
In an optimistic timeframe, Missouri sportsbooks begin accepting wagers before March Madness. However, given the state’s history, we’re more likely looking at a launch before the 2025 NFL season.
