Missouri Sports Teams Launch Initiative Petition for Legal Sports Betting in Missouri

Missouri’s professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Current, and St. Louis City soccer teams, have announced their intention to launch an initiative petition drive to put the legalization of sports betting on the November ballot in Missouri [1]. This move comes as a response to the repeated stalling of sports betting bills in the Missouri Senate, where the issue has been a contentious topic for several years.

Missouri is one of just a dozen states where sports wagering remains illegal, despite the U.S. Supreme Court clearing the way for states to adopt it in 2018 [2]. The latest state to join the trend is Vermont, which launched mobile sports betting on Thursday, January 12, 2024 [3].

The odds for additional state legislatures to embrace sports betting in 2024 appear iffy due to political resistance and the sometimes competing financial interests of existing gambling operators [4]. The Missouri sports teams, however, are determined to bring sports betting to their state in a responsible and safe manner. They began circulating petitions this week and plan to gather signatures this weekend at a St. Louis Cardinals offseason event and a St. Louis Blues home game [1].

The proposed constitutional amendment would allow each of Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer onsite and mobile sports betting [1]. Teams would control onsite betting and advertising within 400 yards of their stadiums and arenas. The initiative also allows for two mobile sports betting operators to be licensed directly by the Missouri Gaming Commission [1].

Under the initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary, and higher education [1]. If approved by voters, state regulators would have to launch sports betting no later than Dec. 1, 2025 [1].

The sportsbook companies DraftKings and FanDuel each contributed $250,000 earlier this week to a newly created campaign committee backing the ballot initiative [1]. The Missouri Gaming Association, which represents casinos, declined to comment about the sports teams’ initiative [5].

The Missouri Senate has previously passed sports betting bills in the House, but consensus has been elusive in the Senate [6]. Republican state Sen. Denny Hoskins has insisted that sports wagering be paired with the regulation of legally questionable slot-machine-style video games that have popped up in convenience stores and truck stops [6]. Casinos have opposed that, and the two sides have remained at odds [6].

Online sports wagering companies, casinos, professional sports teams, and video gaming terminal interests have combined to hire about 80 lobbyists in Missouri [7].

The legalization of sports betting in Missouri could generate significant revenue for the state, as well as provide a new source of entertainment for fans. The sports teams believe that the initiative is a responsible and safe way to bring sports betting to Missouri, and they are optimistic about its chances of passing in the November election.

References:
[1] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Missouri’s professional sports teams launch initiative petition for sports betting. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-sports-teams-launch-initiative-petition-for-sports-betting
[2] Associated Press. (2023, December 1). Supreme Court clears way for states to legalize sports betting. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/supreme-court-clears-way-for-states-to-legalize-sports-betting
[3] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Vermont launches mobile sports betting. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/vermont-launches-mobile-sports-betting
[4] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Legal online sports betting coming to Vermont next month, Gov. Scott announces. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/legal-online-sports-betting-coming-to-vermont-next-month-gov-scott-announces
[5] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Missouri’s professional sports teams launch initiative petition for sports betting. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-sports-teams-launch-initiative-petition-for-sports-betting
[6] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Missouri teams to petition for legal sports betting ballot initiative. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-teams-to-petition-for-legal-sports-betting-ballot-initiative
[7] Associated Press. (2024, January 12). Missouri’s professional sports teams launch initiative petition for sports betting. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/missouri-sports-teams-launch-initiative-petition-for-sports-betting.

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