Betting Ballot Language Approved Laws & Regulations

Missouri Sports Betting Advances with Approval of Betting Ballot Language

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 06 December 2023

Lisa Spencer Senior Editor

As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.

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According to recent reports, the Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft has approved eight different versions of a proposal to legalize sports betting. This crucial step paves the way for the initiative to potentially appear on next year’s ballot, subject to successful signature-gathering efforts.

The push for legalized sports betting in Missouri is being led by a coalition of local professional sports teams.

To secure a place on the ballot, organizers now face the challenge of collecting over 170,000 signatures from Missouri residents. If the initiative gets majority support from voters, it will result in an amendment to the Missouri Constitution. Consequently, the Missouri Gaming Commission will be charged with the responsibility of formulating regulations to oversee sportsbook operations.

Winning Support Could Be Challenging

According to Bill DeWitt III, president of the Cardinals and a prominent figure in this campaign, the next step involves collaborating with the mobile gaming industry to select the most favorable version of the ballot measure for signature collection.

However, winning public support might prove challenging. A recent poll by the Remington Research Group for Missouri Scout, a political newsletter, revealed there was a high level of resistance when it came to legalizing sports betting. The survey indicated that 54 percent of respondents opposed the idea, while only 26 percent supported it, and 20 percent remained undecided.

The initiative to bring the matter to a public vote came after legislative attempts to pass a sports betting law in Missouri faced hurdles in the past two years. Despite the State House of Representatives passing a sports betting bill earlier this year, delays meant that the Senate did not vote on it before adjourning.

State Senator Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) has been a central figure in these legislative stalemates. Although he said that he is not against sports betting, Hoskins has been advocating for a legal framework for controversial “skill gaming” machines.

With the state legislature set to reconvene in January, ballot measure organizers have expressed a willingness to withdraw their initiative if lawmakers take decisive action, though they remain skeptical of such an outcome. DeWitt said:

I would be thrilled if we could get legislative action because then we wouldn’t have to do it.

However, he believes that this is unlikely to happen.

The Proposed Framework

The proposed sports betting framework, which is said to be consistent across all versions, includes a stipulation that bettors must be aged 21 or over. In addition, sportsbook revenues would be subject to a 10 percent tax. Organizers project an initial setup cost of approximately $660,000 and annual operating expenses of at least $5.2 million.

License fees from sportsbook operators are estimated to bring in between $10.75 million and $12.75 million. However, due to various tax deductions available to operators, the precise ongoing revenue for the state remains uncertain, with projections ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually.

The proposal earmarks tax revenues from sports betting primarily for education, after accounting for the expenses of the Gaming Commission and contributions to a Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund.