In a historic determination, Missouri voters have authorized Amendment 2, making sports activities betting authorized throughout the state. The measure, handed by simply 0.256%, represents Missouri’s entry because the thirty ninth state in the U.S. to legalize this type of playing. The Secretary of State’s workplace reported a good margin, with solely 7,486 votes out of practically 2.9 million solid separating approval from rejection. Although the modification handed narrowly, the opposition group Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment has confirmed they won’t search a recount, though Missouri legislation permits recounts for margins underneath 0.5%.
The push to legalize sports activities betting in Missouri has been fueled by neighboring states like Illinois and Kansas, which have already embraced regulated sports activities wagering. Following remaining certification, anticipated by December 10, Amendment 2 will take impact 30 days after the election. The Missouri Gaming Commission has till December 1, 2025, to determine licensed sports activities betting platforms statewide, permitting residents to guess each at casinos and through cellular apps.
What Amendment 2 Means for Sports Betting in Missouri
The passage of Amendment 2 opens up a number of betting choices throughout Missouri. Once the market launches, residents could have entry to each retail and on-line sports activities betting platforms. Professional sports activities groups in Missouri, together with the Cardinals, Royals, and Chiefs, can be approved to arrange bodily betting places close to their stadiums and supply branded cellular betting choices.
Additionally, casinos in the state will be capable to host sportsbooks on-site, with every on line casino eligible for a web-based sports activities betting license. Two extra on-line licenses can be accessible for platforms impartial of casinos or sports activities groups, paving the way in which for main operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook.
Missouri will be a part of Kansas in taxing adjusted gross gaming income from sports activities betting at 10%, a relatively low fee amongst states with legalized sports activities wagering. This tax will assist the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and a portion will fund the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund to assist these affected by playing habit. However, the modification’s approval as a constitutional measure makes any future tax fee changes difficult, as modifications would require one other statewide vote.
Proponents of Amendment 2 imagine sports activities betting will contribute much-needed income to Missouri’s schooling funds. According to the Winning for Missouri Education marketing campaign, which acquired over $14 million in backing from FanDuel and DraftKings, sports activities betting may generate over $100 million in new tax income inside the first 5 years of legalization. In comparability, Kansas has collected greater than $20 million in tax income because it launched sports activities betting in 2022, directing funds towards attracting skilled sports activities groups.
Missouri’s Journey to Legal Sports Betting and Broader Implications
Missouri’s journey to legalized sports activities betting has been marked by legislative challenges. Despite important assist for legalization in Kansas City and counties like Jackson, Clay, and Platte, efforts repeatedly stalled inside the state legislature on account of opposition from numerous curiosity teams. However, with Amendment 2’s approval, Missouri residents can anticipate betting choices much like these in surrounding states like Illinois, Iowa, and Tennessee.
Notably, the modification consists of restrictions, similar to prohibiting prop bets on school athletes from Missouri-based establishments, which aligns with measures in different states. This stipulation displays a cautious method to collegiate sports activities wagering supposed to deal with moral and integrity considerations related with betting on newbie athletes.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) reviews that the U.S. sports activities betting business reached a document $10.92 billion in income in 2023, underscoring the business’s potential as a income supply for Missouri. Nevertheless, income from sports activities betting, whereas priceless, isn’t anticipated to totally handle Missouri’s instructional funding wants, with estimates suggesting it might cowl solely a small fraction of the state’s annual $10 billion schooling funds.
With greater than 35 states allowing some type of sports activities playing, Missouri’s approval of Amendment 2 displays a continued nationwide pattern towards legalizing sports activities betting. However, Oklahoma stays the lone border state holding out towards sports activities betting, additional distinguishing Missouri’s option to capitalize on the business. This determination additionally highlights the rising affect of main on-line gaming operators, with FanDuel and DraftKings spearheading the initiative in Missouri to important impact.
Missouri’s sports activities followers can anticipate their first authorized bets as early as December 2025, marking a brand new chapter for the Show-Me State’s gaming panorama.
Source:
“All in: Missouri Voters Pass Amendment 2, Legalize Sports Gambling“, kshb.com, November 6, 2024.
