Final Tally Confirms Sports Betting Coming to Missouri

It was a much closer race than anyone anticipated, but the pro-sports betting forces in the Show Me State have the outcome they desired after the final votes were counted, and it was declared that Amendment 2, Missouri’s sports betting bill, had indeed garnered a narrow majority.

The Final Countdown

Sports betting is big business; therefore, it is not surprising that so many powerful forces aligned to bolster the chances of Amendment 2 passing. All six professional teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Missouri’s two pro soccer teams, the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City SC, all contributed to the political action committee (PAC) designed to campaign in favor of sports betting, Winning for Missouri Education.

Industry Leaders Join the Campaign

The two mobile sports betting industry leaders, FanDuel and DraftKings, also contributed mightily to the effort, donating a combined $40 million to the powerful PAC. The campaign was designed to alert the public that the tax on the sportsbooks’ revenues would be earmarked for the state’s educational system, thus the name Winning for Missouri Education.

The millions of dollars and advertising campaign blitzes ultimately paid off, but it was by the narrowest of margins. Of nearly 3 million votes, the margin of victory came down to half a percentage point or a mere 2,961 votes. That is the final tally, and it has been reported the opposing side will not ask for a recount.

“Joining the 38 other states that already allow sports betting will allow us to further engage with our fans while keeping tens of millions in Missouri for the benefit of our classrooms and communities,” St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III said in a statement Thursday.

Next Steps

The legislation as it is written sets a deadline of December 1, 2025, for the launch of sports betting in Missouri. However, the most lucrative sports betting season kicks off in September when the NFL and the college football seasons begin in earnest. Therefore, efforts will be redoubled to get sports betting off the ground sometime in August.

“Those are definitely optimistic timelines. But so far, we’re on track, so when we issue that first temporary license, then they will be able to start accepting those bets from within Missouri,” MGC executive director Mike Leara said earlier this month.

Licensing Requirements

The legislation also dictates that each online sportsbook that applies for a license must partner with either one of the state’s six pro sports franchises or the operator of a land-based casino. However, there will also be two untethered licenses available, which means the sportsbooks that are awarded them will not have to partner with anyone and thereby will not have to share their revenue.

It is considered a foregone conclusion that DraftKings and FanDuel will be awarded those licenses for their considerable donations to the PAC that ultimately won the day for the pro-sports betting forces. 

The state’s 6.1 million residents, coupled with the low 10% tax rate on sportsbooks adjusted gross revenues, make Missouri an attractive market for sports betting operators large and small. There is even talk that iGaming legislation may come sooner than later, but for right now, sports betting in the Show Me State will arrive in 2025.