Missouri Voters to Have Their Say on Legal Sports Betting in November

Proponents of a legal sports betting platform in Missouri rejoice! You might get access to our best sports betting sites sooner rather than later.

After years of failed attempts to advance the idea of a legal Missouri sports betting platform, voters in the Show-Me-State will now have a chance to decide whether or not sports betting apps and retail providers will be welcome in their state.

On Tuesday, the Missouri Secretary of State, John R. Ashcroft, announced that proponents had gathered enough signatures on a petition to have the question of a legal sports betting platform on the November election ballot.

A simple majority of voters will be required to approve the launch of such a platform for state citizens, as 50%+1 is the requirement for a necessary constitutional amendment. Most in favor of this goal feel it is well within reach.

That said, a February Saint Louis University/YouGov poll identified just 35% of respondents in favor of such a platform and 41% against. Those numbers have moved steadily in favor since. 

It still leaves those obvious “Yes” voters in the state with some work to do to get legal sports betting to the finish line.

The push

The push to allow access to our best sports betting apps in Missouri has been a years-long battle that started taking shape when a group called “Winning for Missouri Education” got involved. When it started in January, its goal was 170,000 signatures, but the result was more than 340,000 signatures in the end.

The high-profile pro sports teams in the state heavily backed the initiative. The St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis CITY SC, and the Kansas City Current all threw their weight behind Winning for Missouri Education.

FanDuel and DraftKings, two of our best sportsbooks that would likely benefit the most from a legal Missouri scene, also backed the initiative, making a total donation of $6.5 million to the cause.

Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, hailed the announcement of a future ballot initiative in a press release Tuesday. He said, “Missouri is now just one step away from joining most other states in legalizing sports betting and being able to provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms. On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot. A vote for Amendment 2 in November is the right thing to do for both Missouri public schools and our favorite sports teams.”

What it all means

If approved on Nov. 5, each of Missouri’s sports teams would become eligible for a legal sports betting license. The state’s existing casino locations will also be eligible to launch their own sportsbook. Each of those entities will be able to acquire their own retail and mobile sports betting license.

Every casino and pro sports team would be open to partnering with one online sports betting operator, and the legal age for wagering would be 21.

Once operational, the state’s Education system would benefit from a 10% tax rate on net revenues from state providers. The total tax revenue could reach $28.9 million in very short order.

The chances

The fact that the idea of legal sports betting has essentially been taken out of the hands of legislators and into the hands of citizens is a good thing for supporters of a platform in Missouri. Lawmakers have had chances to legalize for years, only to find ways to block any plans.

More recent polls suggest a reasonable chance for Missouri's constitutional amendment to pass. A similar poll to the one covered earlier, taken in March, showed 60% favoring legal sports betting in the Show-Me-State and 25% against.

An Emerson College poll in June showed a close race, with 38% of voters supporting legal sports betting and 35% of voters opposing it.

Only one thing is certain ahead of Missourians voting on a plan to bring legal sports betting to the Show-Me State: It will be close. Smart money, however, is on the initiative to pass, thanks to the state’s sports teams and hopeful sportsbooks going to bat for Winning for Missouri Education.