A coalition comprising several Missouri pro sports franchises has submitted over 340,000 petition signatures to the secretary of state’s office in an effort to put the legalization of sports gambling on the November ballot.
After repeated setbacks in their gambling expansion efforts at the General Assembly, the teams united under the Winning for Missouri Education committee for the initiative petition process. These signatures represent more than 8% of registered voters in at least six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
Should voters approve the proposed measure, it would integrate sports wagering into the state Constitution. This initiative entails granting licenses to various entities, including professional sports teams, casinos, and online platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings.
In a press conference, Mike Whittle, the vice president and general counsel of the St. Louis Cardinals, stated: “We’re at a point where we wanted to pursue this avenue and present this issue to the Missouri citizens to vote on later this year.”
Whittle acknowledged: “In terms of the sports teams, some of us are from different sides of the state. We’re not necessarily on the same page on every issue, but this one we are on the same page and really appreciate the partnership and support.”
The initiative proponents assert that the taxation on gambling would yield substantial revenue, contributing “tens of millions” annually to Missouri’s education system.
A fiscal note estimates that the initiative could generate nearly $30 million, with approximately $5 million allocated to assist compulsive gamblers and the remainder directed toward public schools and higher education programs.
Despite the initiative’s momentum, some members of the Missouri Senate, including Republican Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, have been skeptical, citing concerns about addressing issues related to problem-compulsive gambling adequately.
Neighboring states Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kansas have already legalized sports betting, leaving Missouri lagging in the realm of sports gambling. Oklahoma has also yet to legalize its market.
Adam Sachs, senior vice president and chief external affairs officer for the Kansas City Royals, noted instances where individuals cross state lines to participate in legal sports wagering activities.
Major League Baseball’s regulations prohibit teams from establishing sportsbooks within their stadium properties. However, there is consideration for establishing them in adjacent areas, as indicated by Whittle’s mention of exploring options around Ballpark Village for the St. Louis Cardinals.
For the Kansas City Royals, Sachs emphasized the democratic aspect of bringing the issue to the voters, stating: “It’s just a further way of engaging our fans. There are corporate sponsorship opportunities as well that come from this, but it really is all about the fans.”
Should the secretary of state authenticate the petition signatures, the initiative would qualify for a public vote in the November election. Concurrently, the General Assembly deliberates on a measure that could potentially alter the approval process for constitutional amendments, requiring approval from at least five of the state’s eight congressional districts, in addition to a majority statewide vote.
The measure, if approved, could make it to the August primary and change the approval process for November.