As the NFL playoffs approach in January, sports betting will soon become a reality in Missouri following the narrow approval of Amendment 2 by voters. This amendment empowers the Missouri Gaming Commission to establish legal sports betting opportunities by December 1, 2025. However, a key question remains: will residents predominantly use in-state licensed platforms, or will they turn to accounts linked to operators from other states?
A Close Call at the Polls
The final outcome of the sports wagering amendment was uncertain until late into the night, with the decisive votes from Greene County arriving after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. This county, located in southwest Missouri, voted 55% against the measure, contributing to a statewide margin of just 7,486 votes from approximately 2.9 million cast.
Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, expressed his appreciation for the passionate sports fanbase in Missouri, stating, “Missouri has some of the best sports fans in the world, and they showed up big for their favorite teams on Election Day.”
Setbacks for Other Gambling Measures
In contrast to the success of Amendment 2, voters rejected Amendment 5, which sought to establish a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks. This rejection marks only the third time since 1980 that Missouri voters have turned down a proposal to expand gambling. With all precincts reporting, Amendment 5 was trailing with 52% against and 48% in favor.
The campaign supporting Amendment 2, backed by the major online betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings, raised a record $41 million. This funding successfully countered a $14 million opposition campaign led by Caesars Entertainment, which had halted its advertising efforts just three weeks prior to the election.
New Opportunities on the Horizon
With new constitutional amendments taking effect 30 days after the election, Missourians could potentially place their first legal bets as early as December 5. The support for Amendment 2 reflects a significant shift in the state’s approach to sports betting, especially following years of legislative gridlock that left many advocates frustrated.
The push for legalization gained momentum after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports wagering in 2018, prompting over 35 states to follow suit, with Missouri being one of the last holdouts.
Details of Amendment 2
Amendment 2 allows each of Missouri’s six major professional sports teams to establish retail sports betting locations near their stadiums, alongside offering branded online betting platforms. Additionally, each of the state’s six casino operators can open retail sportsbooks at their venues while also providing online betting options. There will also be two licenses available for online betting companies independent of any Missouri casino or sports team.
The profits generated from sports betting will be taxed at a rate of 10%, with allowances made for promotional deductions and federal taxes before calculating state revenue. An economic study commissioned by Winning for Missouri Education predicts that $21.8 billion will be wagered within the first five years of legalization, with over 98% of these bets expected to be placed online.
The Fate of Amendment 5
The rejection of Amendment 5 means there will be no new casino competition at the Lake of the Ozarks, leaving the future of a 2021 project by the Osage Nation in limbo. The tribe seeks to have a property in Miller County recognized as ancestral land to potentially operate a casino and convention center, pending federal approval.
As the state navigates its evolving gambling landscape, the fate of future proposals remains uncertain. Missouri’s residents will now look forward to the upcoming changes in sports betting while reflecting on the recent elections that shaped the state’s gambling policies.
