Missouri: Sports franchises launch campaign for voter-driven decision on sports betting amid legislative stalemate

A coalition comprising six major sports franchises in Missouri, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and Current, has launched an initiative campaign to bring sports gambling to a public vote this year. The move comes as attempts to convince state lawmakers to legalize sports wagering have proven unsuccessful.

According to the proposed constitutional amendment, sports franchises hosting games in arenas with a seating capacity of 11,500 or more would qualify for a license to accept bets on games, player performance, and other aspects of contests with variable outcomes, Missouri Independent reported. Companies managing Missouri's 13 casinos, as well as two online platforms without a physical presence in the state, would also be eligible for licenses.

The amendment allows for online and in-person betting at casinos and sports venues. The state would impose a 10% tax on net revenue, with estimated annual proceeds ranging from zero to $28.9 million. After allocating $5 million to address compulsive gambling, the remaining revenue would fund public schools and higher education programs, the report said.

The campaign, named Winning for Missouri Education, commences with a $500,000 initial fund. Contributions from major online sports gambling platforms FanDuel and DraftKings, totaling $250,000 each, have been reported. Collaborating sports teams include the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis CITY SC, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Current.

St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, in a news release, expressed frustration with the legislative inaction, stating that efforts to sway lawmakers have yielded no results. He said bills seeking the legalization of sports betting have repeatedly passed in the Missouri House but consistently faced setbacks in the Senate.

“Therefore, as we are not optimistic that this pattern will change during the upcoming legislative session, we are currently proceeding with an initiative petition campaign to put the issue of legalized sports wagering on the ballot for Missouri voters in 2024, and, beginning this week, we are launching our campaign and will be collecting signatures to support this initiative petition,” DeWitt was quoted as saying in the report.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden indicated that the initiative campaign is not expected to prompt action in the Senate, citing disagreements over including video lottery games in sports wagering bills.

While the casino industry remains open to legislative avenues, lobbyist Mike Winter stated that members need to review the proposal before committing. The selected proposal appears designed to involve casinos by allowing them to operate sports gambling platforms independently or in collaboration with online providers.

To secure a spot on the ballot, supporters must gather signatures from registered voters, equivalent to 5% of the 2020 gubernatorial vote in each of six congressional districts. The deadline for gathering signatures is May 8.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2018 decision to lift federal bans on sports betting, neighboring states to Missouri have legalized it, except for Oklahoma. With significant revenue potential, sports wagering in Missouri could rival lottery and casino spending. The campaign organizers assert that legalization will curb the black market and retain residents who currently bet legally in neighboring states.