Missouri Likely to Hold Referendum on Sports Betting

November Referendum on Sports Betting Likely in Missouri

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 13 May 2024

Lisa Spencer Senior Editor

As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.

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Bypassing the General Assembly Gridlock

The push for a referendum comes after multiple failures by state lawmakers to pass sports betting legislation, primarily due to disagreements over how to regulate controversial skill gaming machines. 

Jack Cardetti, a spokesman for the campaign, stated:

As one of only 12 states without legalized sports betting, Missouri took a significant step forward today in ensuring that these revenues stay in Missouri to help our communities and classrooms.

Led by the Missouri-based pro sports franchises, including the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs, the most recent Super Bowl champions aiming for a historic three-peat next season, Winning for Missouri Education seeks to circumvent the General Assembly impasse and give Missourians a direct say on the matter.

Proposed Amendment Would Expand Gambling Access

If the Secretary of State’s office validates at least 171,592 of the submitted signatures, the constitutional amendment will be placed on the November 5 general election ballot. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the measure would authorize retail and online sports betting in Missouri’s 13 riverboat casinos, plus would allow the six professional sports teams, to partner with a single operator.

The Missouri Gaming Commission would also be given the power to issue two additional mobile sportsbook licenses. Under the proposed tax structure, the first $5 million in annual revenue would be set aside for problem gambling services, with the remainder allocated to public education.

If passed, the amendment would make Missouri the 39th state to legalize sports gambling, joining neighboring jurisdictions like Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas that have already launched regulated markets. Those in favor of the bill argue that Missouri is missing out on millions in potential tax revenue as bettors head to sportsbooks across state lines – something they want to stop.

The Road Ahead

While hurdles remain, the next five months present a crucial window for Winning for Missouri Education to make its case to voters. However, it’s expected that there will be some opposition to the campaign – although it remains to be seen who will lead this, or what level of funding it will receive.

One person who will probably oppose sports betting being legalized in Missouri is Sen. Denny Hoskins – unless legislature to regulate skill-based games is also passed. He filibustered the previous sports betting push in May 2023.

Still, Cardetti and the pro-sports betting coalition believe they have the right message and the right campaign to get voters to pass it. Ultimately, however, the final decision lies with the state’s voters, and it remains to be seen whether the team has done enough to convince citizens that legalization would be a positive move.