Missouri Secretary of State Certifies Sports Gambling Amendment

Missouri voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the legalization and regulation of sports betting this November after Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft officially certified a proposed constitutional amendment for the November 5 ballot.

The proposed amendment aims to legalize sports betting on major sporting events within Missouri and implement a 10% tax on the activity. Revenue from this tax would be allocated to various causes: $5 million is designated for a fund to address gambling addiction, while the remainder would be directed towards funding for public schools and colleges across the state.

Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, praised the initiative, stating, “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. On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot.”

 

Key Provisions and Implications

If approved, the amendment would allow Missouri’s six major professional sports teams—Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Current, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis City SC—to operate their own branded sports betting platforms. These platforms would provide fans with opportunities to place bets directly through the teams, alongside exclusive advertising within and around their stadiums.

In addition to team-specific platforms, the amendment would permit online wagering platforms to obtain licenses independently of both sports teams and casinos. This could expand the range of sports betting options available to Missourians.

The amendment also includes provisions for existing casino operators and two online gambling sites to apply for sports betting licenses, potentially broadening the scope of legal sports betting in the state.

In a related development, a separate proposal aimed at licensing a new casino on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks did not qualify for the ballot. The casino proposal, intended to compete with a planned Osage Nation casino, failed to meet the necessary signature threshold by 2,031 valid signatures in the 2nd Congressional District. The initiative needed to gather valid signatures from six out of Missouri’s eight congressional districts, but the 2nd District’s submissions included 11,732 invalid signatures.

Despite the setback, organizers of the Osage River Gaming and Convention project are assessing their next steps and considering future options.

 

 

Conclusion

The sports betting amendment's certification marks a significant step towards potentially transforming Missouri’s gambling landscape. If approved by voters in November, the changes could not only provide a new revenue stream for state education but also bring Missouri in line with many other states that have already legalized sports betting.

As Election Day approaches, proponents and opponents of the amendment will likely intensify their campaigns to sway public opinion on this pivotal issue.