Missouri voters to decide on legalizing sports betting in November 5 ballot

Missouri voters will have the chance to decide whether to legalize sports betting in the state this November. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft confirmed on Tuesday that a constitutional amendment to allow and tax betting on major sporting events has been certified for the November 5 ballot.

The campaign behind the amendment, called "Winning for Missouri Education," is supported by all of Missouri's major professional sports teams and has raised over $6.5 million. Major contributions have come from leading mobile sports betting platforms, including FanDuel and DraftKings.

In May, the campaign submitted more than 340,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. The number of valid signatures needed for certification was not immediately disclosed by Ashcroft's office.

Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, expressed gratitude to those who supported the petition. "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," DeWitt said in a statement. "A vote for Amendment 2 in November is the right thing to do for both Missouri public schools and our favorite sports teams."

Amendment 2, as it will appear on the ballot, proposes to grant licenses for sports betting to Missouri's professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Current, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis City SC. State casino operators and two online betting platforms would also be eligible for licenses.

The proposed tax rate on sports betting would be 10%, with $5 million allocated to programs aimed at preventing compulsive gambling. The remaining revenue would be directed to public schools and higher education institutions. According to a fiscal note, the state could generate up to $28.9 million annually from legalized sports betting.

A new poll conducted by Emerson College and The Hill reveals that Missouri residents are divided on the issue of sports betting. The survey, which polled 1,000 registered voters between June 17 and June 19, found that 38.3% support legalizing sports betting, 35.4% oppose it, and 26.3% are undecided.

These findings contrast sharply with previous surveys. An earlier poll by Emerson College and Kansas City’s FOX4 indicated that 62% of Missouri voters favored sports betting, while a subsequent survey by Saint Louis University and YouGov reported 60% support, 25% opposition, and 14% undecided.

Proponents of sports betting in Missouri argue that the state has lost significant revenue to neighboring Kansas and Illinois, where sports betting is already legal. However, the plan has also drawn its fair share of opposition.

In Missouri, the debate has largely focused on issues unrelated to the ethics of gambling. Attempts to pass sports betting legislation have been stalled by disputes over the regulation of video lottery terminals, casino-style slot machines that have proliferated in gas stations, truck stops, and fraternal organizations across the state.

These machines exist in a legal gray area, and lawmakers have been divided on whether a sports betting bill should also address these devices. The proposed constitutional amendment set for the November ballot focuses solely on sports betting and does not address the regulation of video lottery terminals.