Sports Betting Legalization Gaining Momentum in Missouri

For almost two years now, the Missouri state legislature has been trying to reach an agreement that would bring retail and online sports betting to the state. Such efforts have gotten close in the past, but nothing seems to get done when crunch time comes. Good news! Sports betting proponents might have finally found the catalyst that will shake things a get sports betting legislation moving forward.

Missouri Pro Sports Coalition to the Rescure

Most recently, the biggest issue has been related to sports betting proponents coming up with legislative language that will satisfy legislators. It turns out that a group called the "Missouri Pro Sports Coalition" might have hit paydirt. They may have hit paydirt by going around the legislature by taking ballot initiatives right to the voters.

The Missouri Pro Sports Coalition is a group made up of representatives from Missouri professional sports teams. They would seem to have a vested interest in Missouri sports betting based on the likelihood they would be granted sports betting licenses and partnerships with operators.

Recently, the coalition has helped craft eight (8) pieces of sports betting legislation that target the November 2024 election cycle. Each of the eight (8) pieces offers a slightly different twist on how the legislation would be presented to voters via a referendum. Such efforts took a big step forward this week as Missouri Secretary of State John Jay Ashcroft approved all of the final ballot language on each piece. Now, it's simply a matter of working with the legislature to decide which piece stands the best chance with voters.

General Details of the Bllet Initiatives

While each version differs slightly from the other, there are general details that seem common in each piece. Here are some of the proposals that are being made:

• A flat tax rate of 10% would be charged on all sports betting gross revenue
  
• Legislators would establish a $5 million problem gambling fund
  
• 13 Missouri retail casinos would be eligible for licenses to provide retail and online sports betting access
  
• Each Missouri professional sports team would be eligible for licenses to provide retail and online sports betting access
  
• A few of the proposals would authorize the Missouri Gaming Commission to directly operate licensed sportsbook
  

As for the professional sports teams that are participating in the Missouri Pro Sports Coalition, that includes:

• St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
  
• Kansas City Royals (MLB)
  
• St. Louis City Soccer Club (MLS)
  
• Kansas City Soccer (Women's team)
  
• St. Louis Blues (NHL)
  
• Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
  

What Now?

At this time, the Coalition will be looking to secure voter signatures to get any or all of these initiatives on the November 2024 ballot. That will require 170,000 across the state. If any piece gets the required number of signatures, Ashcroft will be charged with signing the initiative and approving it for the ballot.

At that point, it would be up to the voters. Given there has been plenty of support for the right to legally wager on sports among Missouri residents, it's quite possible sports betting will see the light of day in Missouri by early to mid-2025.