Missouri voters can approve online and retail sportsbooks on this fall’s ballot. Here’s everything you need to know about legal Missouri sports betting.
What is the Missouri sports betting ballot measure?
Along with the president, House of Representatives, and other local elected offices, Missouri voters will be asked to vote on legalizing online and in-person sportsbooks in the state on Nov. 5. The vote will be yes or no; if more than 50% approve, legal sports betting platforms will be able to take bets in the state.
When would Missouri sports betting begin if approved?
Language attached to the ballot measure mandates the first books be approved before Dec. 1, 2025. The first online and retail books would likely start taking bets ahead of the 2025 football season, perennially the most lucrative time of the year.
Why is a Missouri sports betting question on the ballot?
Missouri law allows residents to circulate petitions that amend the state constitution. If supporters garner valid signatures from 8% of voters in the most recent gubernatorial election in at least six of the state’s eight congressional districts (among other requirements), a question can appear on the ballot for voter approval.
In Missouri, sports betting proponents took matters into their own hands after state lawmakers failed multiple times to approve legalization. Despite bipartisan support, a handful of legislators derailed legalization as part of unsuccessful attempts to tie sportsbooks with laws regulating the state’s unlicensed video gaming terminals.
As of 2024, there are still no laws around the terminals and sportsbooks remain illegal.
Who supports the ballot measure?
DraftKings and FanDuel, the nation’s largest sportsbooks by market share, are the largest financial donors. The pair has already donated a combined $10 million to bring the question to the ballot and appear poised to continue drumming up “yes” voters in the months before the Nov. 5 election.
MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals, the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and the state’s other major pro sports teams have also been outspoken proponents.
Released last week after a Missouri court left the sportsbook ballot approval on the ballot, the DraftKings & FanDuel-funded group supporting the measure published its first ad; notably, it focuses on educational funding more than sports bettinghttps://t.co/J4zevcYlVU
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) September 10, 2024
These organizations formed the Winning for Missouri Education political action committee. The campaign’s first ad focuses on how money raised by taxes on the would-be legal sports betting will go to fund public education.
Who opposes the measure?
A competing political action committee called Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment launched Sept. 10. The group, as its name indicates, has argued Winning for Missouri Education is more concerned with gambling than raising public education funds. It remains unclear how the group will oppose the “yes” campaign.
Group formed to fight Missouri sports betting vote https://t.co/c3YJ6w7PW6
— St. Louis-area politics (@stlpolitics) September 10, 2024
The ballot question itself was also opposed by two Missouri residents who argued the signatures that placed the question on the ballot were illegally tabulated. A judge ruled Spet. 6 the question would remain on the ballot, but it underscored opposition exists toward Missouri sports betting.
Do Missouri casinos support the sports betting question?
The state’s 13 casinos have remained notably quiet about the ballot measure. Unlike sports betting referendums in California two years ago, no brick-and-mortar casino operator has contributed to the Missouri sports betting ballot measure – or endorsed it publicly.
Interestingly, voter approval would allow in-state casino operators to launch their respective mobile sportsbooks and open retail books within their properties.
The casino operators’ ambivalence toward a new revenue opportunity could come partially from the structure of a would-be legal sports betting market.
Online operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel wouldn’t have to partner with a brick-and-mortar casino operator to launch in the state, a common structure in other jurisdictions. The language could also limit casino companies such as Caesars and Penn Entertainment, which operate multiple Missouri casinos, to only one license apiece.
What sportsbooks would enter the state if approved?
DraftKings and FanDuel are the safest bets to pursue market access. Despite their reticence, expect Caesars and Penn-operated ESPN BET to launch too. Bally’s, which also operates a Missouri casino, would also likely push to launch its sportsbook.
Most other major national brands such as BetMGM, Fanatics, bet365, Hard Rock, and BetRivers could also pursue licensure.
Most if not all the 13 brick-and-mortar casinos would also likely open in-person sportsbooks. The regulatory structure also allows Missouri’s major pro sports teams to open retail books within or adjacent to their respective stadiums.
Where is sports betting legal?
Statewide mobile sports betting is legal in 30 states. Eight more states allow restricted in-person wagering at specific locations such as brick-and-mortar casinos, bars, or lottery retailers.
Counted 20 cars directly over the border sports betting at the spot I go to. Just make it legal Missouri you'll make a lot of money 🤦♂️
— Webb631 (@Webb631) September 8, 2024
Oklahoma is the only of Missouri’s eight bordering states that forbids all legal betting forms. Illinois, which shares the St. Louis metro with Missouri, and Kansas, which splits Kansas City, each allow statewide mobile wagering.
Will Missouri approve mobile sports betting?
Polling shows greater support for the “yes” vote, but it's still too early to tell which way the referendum will go.
Sports betting backers will need to drive up votes in the Kansas City and St. Louis metros, the state’s major population centers that both show among the highest percentages of support in the state. The state’s rural areas have the highest percentage of opponents.
Campaign advertising could play a role in what could be a tight race. A sustained “no” campaign by opposition groups may also push voters against the referendum.
When will the ballot measure be decided?
The first absentee ballots will be delivered later this month. Missouri voters will then have early voting opportunities leading up to polls opening Election Day, Nov. 5. Baring recounts or other certification delays, the results could be known as early as that night.
