Sports betting is on the ballot for Missouri voters this fall and opponents of the legalization effort have gained a prominent new voice.
According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment (MADOGA) political action committee (PAC) aims to convince Missouri voters to reject Amendment 2, which would legalize sports betting in the state.
“This deceptive measure was written by and for the financial benefit of its out-of-state corporate sponsors and funders,” commented Brooke Foster, a spokesperson for MADOGA. “We are building a broad coalition and are prepared to wage a vigorous campaign to educate voters across the state and ensure the measure is defeated.”
MADOGA's position stands in contrast to the Winning for Missouri Education coalition, which argues the measure will generate millions in funding for public schools and higher education. The group recently launched its first TV ad in support of Amendment 2, with a focus on its potential education benefits.
However, Foster and other critics argue that the financial benefits of a legal sports betting market may not live up to expectations.
The Missouri auditor's office conducted a fiscal review revealing that gambling operators could use promotional credits to reduce their tax liability to zero. Additionally, Gov. Mike Parson’s administration found that the initiative fails to identify a state agency that would collect sports betting taxes.
“Without the identification of an agency to collect the tax, no tax can be collected. Due to wording in this IP (initiative petition), the Department of Revenue assumes this IP will not generate any revenue to the state,” said the analysis.
Missouri! @Covers is coming to report on this Fall's sports betting ballot measure. I'll be in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City starting Wednesday to find out what the Show Me State thinks about approving sportsbooks - and we want to hear from you! DMs are open -->>
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) September 9, 2024
The measure
The Winning for Missouri Education committee, which includes pro sports teams like the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals, has been behind the efforts to legalize sports betting in Missouri. The initiative has received support from sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel, which have contributed over $10 million in funding.
Last month, the Secretary of State’s office confirmed that the group had received enough signatures to place the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot. Opponents challenged this, raising concerns about the legitimacy of some of the collected signatures. However, the lawsuit was dismissed, and the measure remains in place.
"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," commented Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals.
If approved by a majority of Missouri voters, the state could have legal sports betting by 2025. The measure would allow professional sports franchises and casinos across the state to apply for retail and mobile sports betting licenses. Wagering would be subject to a 10% tax rate, supporting education and compulsive gambling.
Previous measures to legalize sports betting in Missouri have failed since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. During this time, 38 states have legalized sports betting in some form. Exceptions include Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and of course, Missouri.
