Sports Betting Referendum in Missouri Laws & Regulations

Strong Support Shown for Sports Betting Referendum in Missouri

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 01 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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According to recent reports, a push to legalize sports betting in Missouri has gained strong public backing. Officials involved in the campaign to secure signatures for a constitutional ballot referendum have recently reported solid support from people across the state.

This could spell good news for those who are eager to see sports betting in the state, and it could make a big positive difference to the state’s finances.

The campaign is being run by Winning for Missouri Education, and it has successfully gathered signatures from over 300,000 Missourians. This is far more than the required minimum of 171,592 signatures to qualify for the 2024 general election ballot. With the submission deadline to the Missouri Secretary of State approaching on May 5, the campaign hopes to deliver a total of 325,000 signatures.

Neighboring States Offer Legal Sports Betting

Established last year by prominent sports entities such as the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals, NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, MLB’s Kansas City Royals, and NHL’s St. Louis Blues, Winning for Missouri Education aims to bring legal sports betting to the state, which currently maintains a ban on the activity.

This is in stark contrast with seven neighboring states that have legalized sports betting, leaving Missouri lagging behind.

Financial backing for the campaign comes from industry giants DraftKings, FanDuel, and Betfair, which have collectively invested around $6 million to support the initiative. If validated, the referendum will be placed on the November ballot, where a simple majority vote could pave the way for Missouri to join nearly 40 other states in offering legal, regulated sports betting for both professional and college sports.

A spokesperson for the campaign said:

As the campaign approaches our goal of putting this on the November ballot, Missouri is a step closer to allowing Missouri adults to bet on sports while generating tens of millions in annual funding for our classrooms.

Despite past legislative efforts to legalize sports betting, hurdles in the Missouri General Assembly have prevented the approval of relevant bills. This includes opposition from state Senator Denny Hoskins, who has always expressed concerns over the allocation of funds for addressing potential gambling-related issues.

What Sports Betting Means for Casinos in Missouri

In the event of the referendum’s success and subsequent amendment of the Missouri Constitution to allow legal sports betting, the state’s casinos will be eligible to offer both retail and online sports wagering. The proposal includes provisions for professional sports teams to partner with third-party operators for sports betting services.

Key details of the referendum include a proposed 10 percent tax on gross sports betting proceeds, with a large portion earmarked for state education programs, hence the campaign’s name, “Winning for Missouri Education.”

Officials supporting the legalization of sports betting estimate potential annual revenues of nearly $29 million for the state from a mature online and retail sports betting market.

Many supporters have expressed optimism with regard to the prospects of the campaign, with some officials highlighting the potential economic benefits and revenue streams it could bring to Missouri.