Missouri Sports Betting Ballot Measure Passed with 50.5% Vote
It’s official: Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, with the measure passing by a razor-thin margin of 50.5% in November
Missouri voters narrowly passed sports betting law.
Key Facts:
- State officials confirm that amendment to legalize sports betting narrowly passed in November elections
- Ballot measure received 50.5% support
- Missouri has until Dec 1, 2025 to launch sports betting
- 10% tax on sports betting will be applied
Although the amendment takes effect immediately, sportsbooks are not expected to begin operations until next year. The legislation sets a firm deadline for implementation by December 1, 2025.
The Missouri Gaming Commission previously indicated it would expedite preparations in the event of voter approval. The regulatory body aims to finalize sports betting rules and open the application process for licenses, targeting a launch in late spring or early summer.
State law permits a recount on ballot measures when the margin of victory falls below 0.5%, provided a request is filed within seven days of certification. However, representatives of the opposition group, Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment, have confirmed they will not pursue a recount.
Only parties directly involved in the campaigns are eligible to file such requests, according to Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office.
The amendment grants Missouri casinos and professional sports teams the authority to offer both in-person and mobile sports betting apps. Teams will oversee on-site operations and control advertising within a 400-yard radius of their venues.
Additionally, the Gaming Commission will license two mobile operators to serve the state. Such a system will ensure the MO coffers are filled with tax revenue.
What Will MO Sports Betting Look Like?
Sports betting revenue in MO will face a 10% tax rate, nearly half the 19% national average paid by sportsbooks last year. Proceeds from licensing fees and taxes will allocate a minimum of $5 million annually to programs addressing problem gambling, with the remaining funds directed toward educational initiatives at all levels.
The road to legalization was paved by a petition campaign after years of stalled efforts in the state legislature. An amendment was seen by some as a workaround to the legislative process.
Millions of dollars were plunged into the political arena over this controversial issue. The campaign to pass Missouri’s sports betting initiative was the most expensive in the state’s history.
DraftKings and FanDuel spearheaded the $43 million effort, with substantial backing from the state’s six major professional sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals, among others. The teams reportedly collectively contributed $2 million to the campaign.
Opposition funding, totaling $14 million, came exclusively from Caesars Entertainment, which operates three of Missouri’s 13 land and river-based casinos.
Currently, the 12=1 Kansas Chiefs sit in the top position in the AFC, poised to make a run for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. That game, which typically attracts the most single-event betting in the US, will take place in February. Pressure will be on MO regulators to implement legal sportsbook apps by that event, even if the Chiefs are not participating.
