November’s election will determine if sports betting will come to the Show-Me State in 2025.
The Missouri Attorney General has announced that an initiative to put sports betting on the November ballot has succeeded. The office verified more than 300,000 signatures, easily surpassing the required number.
The ballot initiative's success means that Missouri residents will now decide if the state will legalize sports betting, circumventing roadblocks in the legislature.
The ballot initiative resulted from a collaboration between sportsbook operators and Missouri’s pro sports teams.
The St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Current, and St. Louis City FC joined forces to help legalize sports betting. The group formed the Winning for Missouri Education coalition, the driving force behind the ballot initiative.
The coalition was supported by DraftKings and FanDuel, which made significant financial donations to help support the effort.
Missouri’s pro sports teams decided to push for legal sports betting because the state legislature failed to pass any bill.
While support for sports betting in Missouri has remained strong, Senator Denny Hoskins has stood in the way. The Republican legislature has filibustered bills that would legalize sports betting, demanding Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) be included. The controversial slot-style game had little support and has been left off each bill.
The ballot initiative helps take the issue to the people of Missouri, circumventing the roadblocks Hoskins has been putting up. The Senator has complained that the VLTs were not a part of the initiative, claiming the state is missing out on a $250 million opportunity.
Recent polls have been unable to give a clear picture of the upcoming vote. Some suggest sports betting will be legalized with it, while others show it doesn’t have enough support.
The biggest concern among voters is problem gambling. The US has seen a significant spike in gambling addiction since legalizing sports betting, and there is still no real solution. While funding for programs to help those struggling with problem gambling it hasn’t been enough to temper the growing problem.
It seems that we will likely not have clarity on the chances of legalization until the votes are counted in November.
Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!
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