Missouri voters will decide in November whether to legalize sports betting.
The Secretary of State’s Office approved a ballot initiative, allowing residents to vote on the issue on November 5. The proposed constitutional amendment would permit licensed sports wagering regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission and restrict betting to individuals physically located in the state and over 21.
Supporters, including major professional sports teams and the casino industry, submitted over 340,000 signatures in May to place the sports betting measure on the ballot. Election officials have verified enough signatures for legalized sports betting to appear on the November ballot.
Sports Team Already Support a “Yes” Vote
This amendment would grant betting licenses to the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, Cardinals, Kansas City Current, Blues, and St. Louis City SC, as well as the state’s 13 casino operators and two online betting platforms. The amendment includes a 10% wagering tax on revenues, with funds allocated for educational institutions in Missouri.
“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,” Cardinals President Bill Dewitt said in a statement issued by the Winning for Missouri Education campaign. “A vote for Amendment 2 in November is the right thing to do for both Missouri public schools and our favorite sports teams.”
Dewitt pointed out that if the amendment passes, the tax revenue generated would provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms. It’s estimated that legalized sports betting in Missouri could generate almost $29 million in annual state revenue.
Kansas Still Waiting in the Wings If Amendment Fails
Kansas legalized sports wagering in 2022 and uses a similar taxing structure to the one planned for Missouri. This structure brought in nearly $10 million for $172 million wagered during June.
The Sunflower State is also making a push to sway Missouri sports teams to cross the border if the sports betting amendment doesn’t pass.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2001 into law. It enabled the state to provide incentives to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and MLB’s Kansas City Royals. These incentives aim to entice both teams to relocate from Missouri to Kansas.
The funding for these incentives will be sourced from Kansas’ sports betting profits. The bill modifies the Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bond program. This will attract professional sports teams and potentially construct a new stadium for either the Chiefs or the Royals within the state.
Poll Finds The Majority Supports Legalization
Sports betting has been legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned federal laws banning it nationally. Many fans have traveled to Illinois and Kansas to place wagers.
According to a March poll by Saint Louis University and YouGov, 60% of Missourians support legalizing sports betting, 25% oppose it, and 14% remain undecided. If approved by voters, state regulators would need to launch sports betting by December 1, 2025.
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