It appears that legalizing sports betting in Missouri has a 50/50 shot of passing.
According to poll results, 50% of respondents support the constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, 30% oppose the amendment, and 21% are unsure of how they will vote.
A recent poll revealed that half of likely Missouri voters support the legalization of mobile sports betting.
The Saint Louis University/YouGov poll indicates that 50% of voters planning to participate in the upcoming election would vote “yes” on a ballot measure to permit statewide mobile sports betting platforms and retail sportsbooks at casinos and near major professional sports venues. Meanwhile, 30% of voters are opposed, with the remaining respondents undecided.
There is a Political Divide in Missouri
Support for the amendment was significant among Democrat voters and those who live in the St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas. Democrats backed sports betting with 58% support compared to only 44% from Republicans.
Voters in the St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas strongly support the amendment, with 56% and 58% of respondents in favor, respectively. In contrast, most rural voters are less likely to support it. Only 42% in Northeast Missouri, 40% in Southwest Missouri, and just 34% in Southeast Missouri plan to vote for the amendment.
Northwest Missouri stands out as the only rural area where the majority supports the amendment, with 57% of respondents in favor.
Younger voters are more likely to support legalizing sports betting, with 64% of those aged 18 to 29 planning to vote for it—the highest approval rate of any age group. In comparison, only 44% of voters aged 65 and over say they will vote in favor of the amendment.
Voters with higher levels of education and income are more supportive of the sports betting amendment than those with less education and income.
What The Amendment Would Change
This amendment would allow the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, Cardinals, Kansas City Current, Blues, and St. Louis City SC, along with the state’s 13 casinos and two online betting platforms, to obtain betting licenses.
DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest sportsbooks in the nation, have already contributed nearly $10 million to the campaign. Major professional sports teams in the state are also actively backing the effort.
The proposal includes a 10% tax on sports betting, with $5 million set aside to fund programs that prevent compulsive gambling. The rest of the revenue would go to public schools and higher education, supporting the coalition’s mission.
If voters approve the amendment, state regulators would be required to launch sports betting by December 1, 2025.
The Vote is Expected to Be Close
Missouri is the only state considering legal sports betting through a ballot measure this campaign. If voters approve it, Missouri will become the 39th state to legalize some form of sports betting and the first to do so this year.
Calculators
